Is belief really a choice?

[Neo-Scholastic]

..religion has no answers..only slavery for it's adherents.

I've never been more free in my life. Victory through Christ has liberated me from various obsessions and compulsions. Most of these I couldn't see because of my disbelief.

[KichigaiNeko]

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It must be morning.

I first read the thread title as "Is beef really a choice?" An interesting topic in its own right, but certainly not this thread.

I don't have a developed view on this other than to suggest that the stereotypical response of "We don't choose what we believe," is likely wrong, lacking considerable nuance, and probably a category error (ontological).

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You got that coffee yet?

[CleanShavenJesus]

Assuming we're talking about religious belief, of course it is a choice. It is our choice whether to believe in God or not.

[Joel]

Assuming we're talking about religious belief, of course it is a choice. It is our choice whether to believe in God or not.

How do you choose what you believe?

[everythingafter]

Assuming we're talking about religious belief, of course it is a choice. It is our choice whether to believe in God or not.

How do you choose what you believe?

Determinism has probably been beaten to death on this site, but before that question can be considered, wouldn't we have to differentiate between decisions we make as sentient beings using reason and logic (or not in the case of religion) versus the larger theory that everything that has happened in the universe has led up to where we are right now, including our personal circumstances, which may have some bearing on what we believe or not?

As for the first kind, I definitely chose to be a nonbeliever because of the cumulative case I made against God's existence, particularly the Christian brand of religion. But from the theological perspective, Christians like to parrot this claim that God allows us to have free will so that we aren't slavish robots praising him out of compulsion. But I don't see what difference it makes whether we believe and praise God now or in heaven? According to believers, we either must bow the knee now so we can bow the knee in the afterlife, or else, we will face the fire. There are no other options from the Christian perspective. So, I hardly see how Christians can claim they or nonbelievers are exercising a free will bestowed by God. Where is the choice, for instance, to just live our lives and rot in the ground when we die? Where is the choice not to be caught up in this spiritual game that God has unwillingly tossed us into? Where is the choice to believe in some other God or follow some other belief system. How is free will granted by God free will at all so long as we are captives in this good versus evil chess match?

As for the more general view of determinism, which humans will probably be debating until the end of time, I'll let someone else take a stab at that.

[NoraBrimstone]

The only sense I can make of it is nobody actually believes, they just want to believe and decide that that's "belief"

[Joel]

The only sense I can make of it is nobody actually believes, they just want to believe and decide that that's "belief"

I think it's more of "I chose to believe, so you have no excuse."

[NoraBrimstone]

The only sense I can make of it is nobody actually believes, they just want to believe and decide that that's "belief"

I think it's more of "I chose to believe, so you have no excuse."

That's silly. So silly it's probably true.

[Joel]

I think it's more of "I chose to believe, so you have no excuse."

That's silly. So silly it's probably true.

I agree. It's very silly.

[pocaracas]