I don’t believe in absolutes that apply universally. But I do believe in probabilities. I do not think there is any force which has predetermined anything in the universe but there are biological and environmental drivers that push events in predictable directions like evolution over long periods and across populations. If you set up a set of circumstances you can influence outcomes. People have evolved be able consciously recognise and engage with this like in advertising and creating dating match algorithms but there is no perfect predictability matrix we yet know (see dating algorithms!). One may argue it’s a lack of information and one day the science will allow us know with certainty what choices will be made in a given situation. I don’t believe that right now because people can and do act against their “programming” and that curve ball will always be there. Free will is never as free as people want think it is but making all one’s choices a function of nature or the universe controlling us is an abdication of personal responsibility and for me it’s the main driver behind the need cleave religion.

A person can only act on their beliefs.. But the thing is beliefs are not a choice. Someone is ether convinced of something or they are not...

I lean toward the idea that our consciously aware shared self is able to nudge the robotic organisms into action, overcoming genetics, instinct, learned behavior and blind chance. Of course the robotic organisms also can function and survive for awhile without conscious oversight, but they generally make a big mess of things.

Like the nature vs nurture debate, it isn't exactly one or another.. but a mixture of both.