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For me, belief happens after reason and logic demands it; not before.
So no; for me belief in God is not a choice.
Ken
yep and that is exactly why God made it so that we have to choose to follow him and then mean it enough to follow through. and anything less is like not choosing him.I was indoctrinated into the faith, as a kid. Not really much choice, there. But, at the end of the day, any person can decide to believe or not believe in a deity, or follow a religion. Even in countries where you are ''forced'' to follow a certain religion, no one can police your thoughts. You will always be in charge of your own thoughts.
You choose to trust logic. It is a choice.
10% of your religion is not logically sound?You choose to trust logic. It is a choice.
By the way, more than 90% of contents in any theology are logically sound. They are more logical than most of the reported news.
Priceless.Logic is NOT an excuse of not accepting God.
Strange that I only see this excuse used by those that lack evidence.Davian
Davian, part of the problem is that there is no decisive consensus on just what constitutes "evidence," nor is there a consensus on the methods (or even hermeneutics) to be used.
Speak for yourself. I am not the one positing the existence of "gods".Without which, we're all batting half-blindfolded.
For religion? Not at all.It is a rough analogy, not an argument or explanatory comment. So sure, if you want to be ultra-literal about it, it is more like the glass being 33.4 percent full. The real question is, "how thirsty are you?"
Show me how you "recognize" those "limits" in a manner that allows for "gods" but does not also leave the Earth covered in giant, invisible, immaterial marshmallows.No one has 'lowered' any bars... Actually, I would contest the hegemony of just about any epistemological structure; they all have weaknesses reflecting the limitations of our human ingenuity. Let me be clear, though, I'm not saying we shouldn't appropriate them in our attempts to build various views and understandings of the world. It's just that we also need to recognize their limits.
The argument from antiquity is a fallacy, but I would say, if not for the fairies, how would the gardens grow?As far as fairies, pixies, and the rest...do you know of any historical references we should look as to ascertain as to their existence?
10% of your religion is not logically sound?
I believe so yes. I was raised in a Christian home and was sent to a Christian school/taken to a Christian church, but I fell away as a teen and didn't return until later in adulthood. I still feel it as a choice to stay or go, and that is probably the reason that I stay. If I felt that it was forced on me, I would most likely rebel and fight it.Is belief that a god exists a choice?
Do you choose to trust that 2+2=4? Or that the Law of Non-Contradiction must hold (e.g., you can't have your cake and eat it too)?
I have absolutely no choice in that, or in any matter of logic. I don't see how it can be any other way.
eudaimonia,
Mark
Can you demonstrate that what I've stated is an excuse?Strange that I only see this excuse used by those that lack evidence.
Oh. So, what infallible epistemology do you subscribe to?Speak for yourself. I am not the one positing the existence of "gods".
Well, you can lead a horse to water......For religion? Not at all.
It's called "methodological materialism." Surely, you've heard of it.Show me how you "recognize" those "limits" in a manner that allows for "gods" but does not also leave the Earth covered in giant, invisible, immaterial marshmallows.
I wasn't attempting to use any argument from antiquity; one from twenty years ago would suffice. My point is, we don't see anyone offering historical evidence of fairies, elves, etc. All of the ones I know about are in children's books, not history books. If you know something that I don't about fairies and elves, please enlighten me...The argument from antiquity is a fallacy, but I would say, if not for the fairies, how would the gardens grow?
Logic is simply a tool I use to help determine the truth. i no more choose to trust logic than I choose to breath; it is something that comes naturallyYou choose to trust logic. It is a choice.
Only 90%? So 10% of your theology is probably untrue? If 10% of a news program were untrue, I would not listen to it. If 10% of what came out of someone's mouth were lies, I would not trust that person. So if 10% of your religion is not logically sound; that is not an excuse; that is a legitimate reason for disbelief.By the way, more than 90% of contents in any theology are logically sound. They are more logical than most of the reported news.
Logic is NOT an excuse of not accepting God.
Of course.
But don't worry, atheism is probably 100% logically sound, or limited. Very boring.
Is belief that a god exists a choice?
I can't speak for others, but for me all my beliefs are a choice. It's just that sometimes the choices are very limited.
Who said anything about a moment's notice?No, not a conscious choice. While I have seen many claim for it to be a choice, I do not see them demonstrating it.
Can I, as a adult, believe in Santa as a real, living being? Yes (I was surprised myself). Can I choose to believe on a moments notice? No.
How did you go about convincing yourself that Santa was real?Can I, as a adult, believe in Santa as a real, living being? Yes (I was surprised myself). Can I choose to believe on a moments notice? No.
Why should there be (physical) evidence for the existence of God?There is plenty of evidence, where absence of evidence is evidence of absence. Should there not be evidence for the existence of gods if gods exist?
Where claims of the glass being half full are unsubstantiated.
If we lower our epistemological bar enough for gods to jump over, we may also allow over fairies, pixies, reptilian humanoids, and extraterrestrial aliens visiting earth to make crop circles.
Why should there be (physical) evidence for the existence of God?
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