As a Christian we believe that God has given us freewill and the ability to freely make choices, etc. As an atheist, how do you understand the experience of freewill? Is this an illusion? Is it real and just unexplained?

Here is the logic I would have: At the moment of the big bang everything we understand was put in to process. Eventually, stars, planets and people were created. If the big bang happened exactly the same way in another universe, the exact same progression would happen. The reason is that if all their is in existence is created forms of energy and nothing is capable of directing those forms of energy other than the laws of physics, there should be no difference between galaxy's even down to the last leg position of an ant.

If something outside of the material does exist what it is?? If it doesn't exist, do we have free will? Wouldn't every last particle of our being ONLY do what physics dictates? If it can be manipulated somehow, what is the non-physical entity that is capable of manipulating an object into disregarding the laws of physics?

Same question could be posed to theists... if you believe in Freewill, what part of you allows you to manipulate your brain outside of the laws of physics? How does that work and why can't we detect it? I would say, that I do not know, but I definitely believe free will is real.

Thoughts? I am curious about how most athiests understand the concept of freewill.