Do you agree or disagree with this statement?

[amariselle]

Maybe they dont believe the claims anonymous authors made about jesus.

It is each person's choice whether they accept the Bible or reject it.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

It is a choice because it is available to everyone.

At this moment, could you choose to believe that there is a unicorn in your front yard?

 

[amariselle]

Snap!

Yes, it really is that simple. We all have a choice.

 

[amariselle]

At this moment, could you choose to believe that there is a unicorn in your front yard?

Such a question is irrelevant to my faith. I have a deeply personal and living relationship with my Saviour.

As to unicorns, I think they are beautiful (even if they aren't real) I loved them as a child and even had one painted on my wall. But my faith is not in fantastical creatures, it is in Jesus.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

Such a question is irrelevant to my faith. I have a deeply personal and living relationship with my Saviour.

As to unicorns, I think they are beautiful (even if they aren't real) I loved them as a child and even had one painted on my wall. But my faith is not in fantastical creatures, it is in Jesus.

That doesn't answer the question though. Could you choose to believe that there is a real living unicorn in your front yard right at this very moment? Is that choice open to you?

 

[bhsmte]

It is each person's choice whether they accept the Bible or reject it.

Indeed.

As a former christian, it was a thorough investiagtion of the historicity of the gospels, that led me to conclude, they were not reliable.

 

[amariselle]

That doesn't answer the question though. Could you choose to believe that there is a real living unicorn in your front yard right at this very moment? Is that choice open to you?

Does the evidence for a unicorn in my front yard even come close to the evidence I have of Jesus, my Saviour?

No, it is not even close. And I am freely able to choose based on the evidence, so yes, such a choice is open to me.

 

[amariselle]

Indeed.

As a former christian, it was a thorough investiagtion of the historicity of the gospels, that led me to conclude, they were not reliable.

Fair enough. It has done the opposite for me. Either way, it is a choice.

 

[bhsmte]

Does the evidence for a unicorn in my front yard even come close to the evidence I have of Jesus, my Saviour?

No, it is not even close. And I am freely able to choose based on the evidence, so yes, such a choice is open to me.

Could you choose right now to believe your god does not exist and have it be real disbelief?

If not, it isnt a choice.

 

[bhsmte]

Fair enough. It has done the opposite for me. Either way, it is a choice.

Not a choice, more of a conclusion, based on obtaining new knowledge.

 

[amariselle]

Could you choose right now to believe your god does not exist and have it be real disbelief?

If not, it isnt a choice.

Sure, if I truly believed that is where the evidence all leads. I do not believe that however, and so, my belief in God is my choice, a choice I freely and willingly made.

 

[amariselle]

Not a choice, more of a conclusion, based on obtaining new knowledge.

Fair enough. You are free to decide, as we all are.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

Does the evidence for a unicorn in my front yard even come close to the evidence I have of Jesus, my Saviour?

No, it is not even close. And I am freely able to choose based on the evidence, so yes, such a choice is open to me.

So in other words, you can't simply "choose to believe" at all. To form a sincere belief you need to be convinced. And you can't will yourself into an honest conviction. So it's wrong to say that we have a "choice."

 

[Archaeopteryx]

Fair enough. It has done the opposite for me. Either way, it is a choice.

What choice? You keep saying that, despite the fact that you clearly cannot choose to believe at a whim, as the unicorn example shows.

 

[bhsmte]

Sure, if I truly believed that is where the evidence all leads. I do not believe that however, and so, my belief in God is my choice, a choice I freely and willingly made.

Ah, you need to evidence for you to reach a certain conclusion and can not just choose which belief on a whim.

 

[amariselle]

Ah, you need to evidence for you to reach a certain conclusion and can not just choose which belief on a whim.

Absolutely, my faith is not a "whim" though many non-Christians here will say just that about the Christian faith. I have never claimed such a thing, and I never will.

 

[amariselle]

What choice? You keep saying that, despite the fact that you clearly cannot choose to believe at a whim, as the unicorn example shows.

Again, my faith is not a "whim." It is indeed a choice. If I was to believe in the unicorn, I would need evidence.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

Again, my faith is not a "whim." It is indeed a choice. If I was to believe in the unicorn, I would need evidence.

Then it's not a choice. You can't "choose to believe" in the unicorn, as you just acknowledged. You need evidence. Well, so do I. So stop pretending that we can all just "choose to believe" in the Bible's claims.

 

[amariselle]

Then it's not a choice. You can't "choose to believe" in the unicorn, as you just acknowledged. You need evidence. Well, so do I. So stop pretending that we can all just "choose to believe" in the Bible's claims.

I never said any different. I already admitted that I need evidence, and I have it. I'm not pretending anything.

Absolutely, my faith is not a "whim" though many non-Christians here will say just that about the Christian faith. I have never claimed such a thing, and I never will.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

I never said any different. I already admitted that I need evidence, and I have it. I'm not pretending anything.

You continue to say that we have a "choice," even though it's plain to see that we don't. We can't "choose to believe" the Bible's claims. We can't manufacture sincere belief at will.