Free will?

I posted the other day about predestination - the idea that our futures are already written. So, does it matter? Well, yes it does, most fundamentally. When you think about it, the way we live our lives - all of us - is based on the concept of reward and punishment. Throughout our lives we are rewarded for doing the "right" thing (whatever that may be in the circumstances) and punished - if only by not being rewarded - for doing the "wrong" thing. If we're a good child we get lots of hugs and kisses and are bought nice presents - if we're not good we get shouted at and maybe even get a clip round the ear. When we go to school, if we are a good pupil we get good marks and certificates - if we're not we get bad marks and detention. When we go to work, if we do a good job we get pay rises and promotions - if not we get reprimands and maybe even the sack. And this idea continues even beyond the grave - all the world's main religions are based on the premise that there is some sort of existence beyond this one, and that our position or status in that existence depends on whether or not we have lived a "good" life in this one. But all this is predicated on the basis that we can choose whether to do the "right" thing or not. If we can't the whole system falls apart. What is the point of rewarding somebody for doing something they were bound to do? What is the point of punishing somebody for doing something they could not help themselves but do? The whole thing becomes a nonsense. More on this later.