Is belief that a god exists a choice?

[talquin]

Is belief that a god exists a choice?

 

[2PhiloVoid]

Is belief that a god exists a choice?

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

 

[Davian]

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.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

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.

But.............Santa is real; he's in Heaven.

 

[Ken-1122]

Is belief that a god exists a choice?

For me, belief happens after reason and logic demands it; not before.
So no; for me belief in God is not a choice.

Ken

 

[Davian]

But.............Santa is real; he's in Heaven.

How then does he drive the sleigh and get the presents under the tree?

 

[jacknife]

Is belief that a god exists a choice?

sadly i think it is not, there's a bunch of religions i wish were true, but i find myself in a position unable to believe in them.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

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

Ask yourself this: could you, at a moment's notice, deliberately choose to believe in the God of another religion? Could you choose to believe that the sky is purple? Could you choose to believe that fairies are real beings and that one stole your socks yesterday? Is the only thing that prevents you from believing these things the fact that you have not deliberately chosen to believe them?

 

[angelkiss]

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.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

How then does he drive the sleigh and get the presents under the tree?

...hyper drive, baby! (Didn't you see the movie, "Elf"?)

 

[Archaeopteryx]

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.

One of those is not like the others...

 

[angelkiss]

...hyper drive, baby! (Didn't you see the movie, "Elf"?)

 

[2PhiloVoid]

Ask yourself this: could you, at a moment's notice, deliberately choose to believe in the God of another religion? Could you choose to believe that the sky is purple? Could you choose to believe that fairies are real beings and that one stole your socks yesterday? Is the only thing that prevents you from believing these things the fact that you have not deliberately chosen to believe them?

No, but there's other things I could do at a moment's notice.....

 

[Archaeopteryx]

No, but there's other things I could do at a moment's notice.....

Then there's your answer. It's not a deliberate choice.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

Then there's your answer. It's not a deliberate choice.

....well, I never said I drink instant coffee, but I am a coffee drinker.

 

[angelkiss]

One of those is not like the others...

How is one different?

 

[SillyFool]

angelkiss - How is one different?

Archaeopteryx is right. My initial (sleep-deprived) thought is that it has to do with a difference between belief and action.

I can choose to do anything. I can’t choose to believe anything. My beliefs are the sum of my experience in the world. I could choose to sacrifice a goat in Thor’s name, but I can’t choose to believe in Thor. I can choose to say, “the sky is purple,” but I can’t actually believe the sky is purple. If the sky turned purple or my optic nerve went wonky or Thor whomped me over the head with Mjölnir, my beliefs would probably change.

“Belief” is a funny thing. It’s like a hybrid of knowledge and trust. I think we have more choosing power in the trust aspect of belief. I can choose to believe my friend’s story, because I trust him, even if I don’t know the story is true.

 

[Freodin]

How is one different?

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.

 

[angelkiss]

Archaeopteryx is right. My initial (sleep-deprived) thought is that it has to do with a difference between belief and action.

I can choose to do anything. I can’t choose to believe anything. My beliefs are the sum of my experience in the world. I could choose to sacrifice a goat in Thor’s name, but I can’t choose to believe in Thor. I can choose to say, “the sky is purple,” but I can’t actually believe the sky is purple. If the sky turned purple or my optic nerve went wonky or Thor whomped me over the head with Mjölnir, my beliefs would probably change.

“Belief” is a funny thing. It’s like a hybrid of knowledge and trust. I think we have more choosing power in the trust aspect of belief. I can choose to believe my friend’s story, because I trust him, even if I don’t know the story is true.

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.

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.

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?
How does a person brought up with athiest beliefs become christian?
How is it a person who doesn't really believe in anything, start believing in something?
If there was no choice, would people not remain in what was instilled without waiver?

 

[Eudaimonist]

It isn't a choice for me, but I suppose that it could be a choice for some people. Some people claim that it was a choice for them, anyway.

I'm not sure that it is a choice for anyone. It seems like it would take a great deal of ambivalence on the subject.


eudaimonia,

Mark