Is belief that a god exists a choice?

[Belk]

I choose other. In normal parlance belief is not a choice. It is, however, possible to brainwash yourself into believing something you would not otherwise find credible.

 

[KCfromNC]

Professional atheists? How do you determine whether someone is a "professional atheist"?

What, you're not getting paid to post here? Look in your official Evil Atheist Conspiracy[tm] welcome packet to find directions on how to set up direct deposit.

 

[Albion]

I choose other. In normal parlance belief is not a choice.

What would you say it is, then? I'm not getting how what we believe normally is within our power to accept or reject.

 

[durangodawood]

What would you say it is, then? I'm not getting how what we believe normally is within our power to accept or reject.

Belief is typically based on experience.

You either have an experience, or you dont. I suppose you can seek a certain experience, but its not entirely your choice whether you find it or not.

 

[Albion]

Belief is typically based on experience.

You either have an experience, or you dont. I suppose you can seek a certain experience, but its not entirely your choice whether you find it or not.

All right, but experience is just one of a number of factors that lead us to our conclusions. We still decide on the merits of whatever it is, and no one is forcing us to believe something we otherwise think is not credible.

 

[durangodawood]

All right, but experience is just one of a number of factors that lead us to our conclusions. We still decide on the merits of whatever it is, and no one is forcing us to believe something we otherwise think is not credible.

Not all conclusions are properly called "belief".

I think belief is a conclusion thats based on experience, typically in the absence of other confirming factors like reasoning. Something happens that leads directly to a conclusion.

 

[Albion]

Not all conclusions are properly called "belief".

If you accept them as true, I'd say it's fair to say you believe them.

I think belief is a conclusion thats based on experience, typically in the absence of other confirming factors like reasoning. Something happens that leads directly to a conclusion.

I think it's more than that.

 

[PsychoSarah]

How do you determine a professional atheist?

Is there such thing as a professional christian?

I'd call apologists in general to be sorts of professional Christians. I guess a professional atheist would be analogous to that, only promoting atheism instead. And there are people who do that for a living.

 

[PsychoSarah]

That's what professional atheists like to say of themselves. It makes them feel they are less closed-minded or absolutist or credulous (all of which they like to say characterize theists).

But the word does not mean agnosticism. It refers to a position that's been taken.

More to the point, and before we go further with your inquiry, I took you at your word when you wrote:


Was that a serious request...or were we theists merely being baited into an argument by which we could be sneered at for anything we might suggest to you in good faith?

-_- I am an agnostic atheist. Most atheists are agnostic. You can be both, heck, agnosticism isn't even belief related, it is knowledge related. To say you are agnostic is to assume a position in which you don't claim to know or be sure about it. It just is most commonly used in association with religion to the point that I doubt you'll ever see it used differently in a context that isn't satire.

Why would I be rude to you? I am not an antitheist, heck, I don't even like being an atheist, so it isn't as if I have a lot of a theological superiority complex here.

 

[bhsmte]

I'd call apologists in general to be sorts of professional Christians. I guess a professional atheist would be analogous to that, only promoting atheism instead. And there are people who do that for a living.

Ok, I was hoping to get a response from the poster that brought it up.

 

[PsychoSarah]

Ok, I was hoping to get a response from the poster that brought it up.

Does it matter who answers so long as the answer is logical?

 

[bhsmte]

Does it matter who answers so long as the answer is logical?

Sometimes it does.

If one poster brings up a point or uses certain terms, there are times I like to know the posters reasoning behind using that term. Obviously, only the poster that brought it up can answer for himself.

 

[Davian]

How long did it take for you to decide to believe in a god?

How long would it take for you to disbelieve?

Probably years.

Let's hope you do not make your "choice" for what to have for breakfast in the same manner.

 

[talquin]

Yes, it is a choice; one who encounters Christianity has to make a decision within a limited span of time with partial evidence.

Some people see the glass half full, while others see it as empty. It all depends on the epistemological expectations we individually bring to the table.

Peace

What is one making a decision on?

What kind of evidence is available?

Can you choose to believe that thousands of tiny green men are crawling about the center of Mars right now?

 

[talquin]

We are faced with choices daily. Get up, stay in bed. Go to work, call in sick. Eat breakfast, do without. Believe in God/a God, Don't believe in God/a God. Choice is there, it's up to us to decide.

Can you choose to believe that 15 fire breathing dragons are in my garage right now?

Can you choose to believe that thousands of tiny green men are crawling around on the rings of Saturn?

Can you choose to believe that the Norse god Thor really exists?

Probably no to all three. Or am I wrong?

 

[Albion]

Can you choose to believe that 15 fire breathing dragons are in my garage right now?

I know people who believe less credible things.

 

[talquin]

Because you cannot actively do this one.

Belief is an internal conviction. You don't chose convictions... you are, well, convicted.

It is similar to tastes.

You can chose to eat or not eat breakfast.

You can not chose to like or dislike marmalade.

While you are correct, comparing believing or not believing something to exist to liking or disliking a food isn't a very good analogy. One is the result of life's experiences and observations, while the other is entirely a physiological reaction.

 

[talquin]

I personally stick with, it's a choice. Each day, we have the "choice" to serve God, satan, whoever. I could "choose" to throw all of my beliefs aside and go a different direction. It is based more on what you truly "want". If we had no "choice" everyone would have the same perspective. Because of that choice, some believe in God or satan, some believe in both, some believe in neither, some believe in science and some believe in other Gods.

Choosing who or what to serve isn't the same as choosing what you believe or not believe to exist. Can you choose to believe I own 400 fire breathing dragons? Probably not. But even if you don't believe those fire breathing dragons exist, could you still "serve" them? I'd say in your own mind you can.

People can choose a different belief if they want to bad enough. I personally know of people who have done so. Sometimes it is due to curiosity, other times it is because they need a change in their life and their way isn't working. And some do it for other reasons. Bottom line is, they "chose" to believe what they believe because that is their desire.

Could you choose to believe that you are actually a rhinoceros? Please try as hard as you can to choose to believe that you are actually a rhinoceros and tell me what happens.

Having said that, if a person has one track thinking, their beliefs may not seem like a choice. If you close your mind to other things, that becomes your only belief without option, leaving no room to allow yourself "choice". Basically, it differs depending on the person.

(Forgot to add this)
If beliefs are not a choice,
How does a person brought up with christian beliefs become athiest?

It is a reaction to their life experiences and observations.

How does a person brought up with athiest beliefs become christian?

It's largely a reaction to their life experiences and observations. But they are probably highly gullible and susceptible to scams and con artists.

How is it a person who doesn't really believe in anything, start believing in something?

Do you mean believe to exist or to believe in something? Those are two different things.

If there was no choice, would people not remain in what was instilled without waiver?

Let's say at some point in your life you've heard the sound of rain. And let's say you're inside and didn't know it was raining outside. You've got the TV or stereo turned up loud enough that you can't hear the raindrops. You then turn the TV or stereo off and you hear the raindrops. You don't step outside to look at the rain, nor do you look out the windows to see the rain. Based on your experience of the sound you hear, your brain will react by telling you that it is likely raining outside. And you'll come to the belief that it is raining outside without making a choice to believe something.

 

[talquin]

If you accept them as true, I'd say it's fair to say you believe them.



I think it's more than that.

Can you choose to accept it is true that you are actually a polar bear?

 

[talquin]

I choose other. In normal parlance belief is not a choice. It is, however, possible to brainwash yourself into believing something you would not otherwise find credible.

Then you would be choosing to brainwash yourself. Any resulting belief due to the brainwashing wouldn't be a direct choice.