Our server costs ~$56 per month to run. Please consider donating or becoming a Patron to help keep the site running. Help us gain new members by following us on Twitter and liking our page on Facebook!
Current time: January 30, 2025, 7:46 pm
Atheist Forums › Community › Philosophy v
Is belief really a choice?

Thread Rating:
  • 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Thread Modes
Is belief really a choice?
GordonHide Offline
Newbie
*
Religious Views: Atheist
Posts: 10
Threads: 0
Joined: April 4, 2013
Reputation: 0
#151
RE: Is belief really a choice?
April 8, 2013 at 2:23 pm
(April 7, 2013 at 1:12 pm)MysticKnight Wrote:
(April 7, 2013 at 1:05 pm)GordonHide Wrote: Well, except that the world is probably deterministic so that the word "choice" probably means something slightly different to that imagined by most people.

Empirically, rationally, yes I agree with you.

But something else, something deeper, something mysterious, tells me no, we are free, we do as we please and please as we will and will what we will, and will what we will by which we will, and on to infinitum.
I don't think there is anything mysterious about it. You are just responding to your desire to believe that which you would like to be true.
Find
Reply
Polaris Offline
Senior Member
****
Religious Views: Christian
Posts: 2610
Threads: 22
Joined: May 18, 2012
Reputation: 17
#152
RE: Is belief really a choice?
April 8, 2013 at 11:23 pm (This post was last modified: April 8, 2013 at 11:24 pm by Polaris.)
Not really, no. The Holy Spirit made me believe and no human could have done otherwise.

I don't have the experience of growing up in a religious environment (my parents wanted me to find my path on my own and not cajole me into anything), so I can't offer any answer on that front.
But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.
Find
Reply
Gabriel Syme Offline
Junior Member
**
Religious Views: Catholic
Posts: 108
Threads: 4
Joined: February 8, 2013
Reputation: 1
#153
RE: Is belief really a choice?
May 3, 2013 at 1:44 pm (This post was last modified: May 3, 2013 at 1:45 pm by Gabriel Syme.)
(March 22, 2013 at 9:35 am)Joel Wrote: Is belief really a choice?

I don't think so.

Agreed.

Faith is a state of being, rather than a yes/no choice.

In Catholic belief, a person having faith is the result of a supernatural event, it is a gift from God.
Find
Reply
Whateverist Away Donators
Known religious sympathizer/accomodationist
*****
Religious Views: Be civil or die!
Posts: 23918
Threads: 300
Joined: June 25, 2011
Reputation: 150
#154
RE: Is belief really a choice?
May 3, 2013 at 1:49 pm
(May 3, 2013 at 1:44 pm)Gabriel Syme Wrote: Faith is a state of being, rather than a yes/no choice.

Yep, a state of being like possession, inebriation, mania or hypnosis. Angel Cloud
Find
Reply
Joel Offline
Member
***
Religious Views: Secular Humanist
Posts: 548
Threads: 13
Joined: March 12, 2013
Reputation: 7
#155
RE: Is belief really a choice?
May 3, 2013 at 2:23 pm
Quote:In Catholic belief, a person having faith is the result of a supernatural event, it is a gift from God.
What about when one doesn't receive this gift?
(March 30, 2013 at 9:51 pm)ThatMuslimGuy2 Wrote: Never read anything immoral in the Qur'an.
Find
Reply


Atheist Forums › Community › Philosophy v
Is belief really a choice?

Possibly Related Threads...
Thread Author Replies Views Last Post
  Belief without Verification or Certainty vulcanlogician 40 4984 May 11, 2022 at 4:50 pm
Last Post: vulcanlogician
  [Serious] Questions about Belief and Personal Identity Neo-Scholastic 27 3005 June 11, 2021 at 8:28 pm
Last Post: arewethereyet
  Pro Choice is Slavery? Jade-Green Stone 36 4748 November 15, 2018 at 11:28 pm
Last Post: Minimalist
  Is Belief in God ethical? vulcanlogician 28 3685 November 1, 2018 at 4:10 pm
Last Post: vulcanlogician
  The Argument Against God's Existence From God's Imperfect Choice Edwardo Piet 53 10522 June 4, 2018 at 2:06 pm
Last Post: The Grand Nudger
  William James and Belief In Belief Mudhammam 0 716 November 2, 2016 at 7:13 pm
Last Post: Mudhammam
  Knowledge and belief in God Harris 37 6077 April 29, 2016 at 8:00 am
Last Post: paulpablo
  Test my belief system robvalue 84 16120 September 8, 2015 at 10:41 am
Last Post: Sappho
  The Ethics of Belief Pyrrho 32 9178 July 25, 2015 at 2:27 pm
Last Post: The Grand Nudger
  In regard to the rational person's choice Mohammed1212 23 7000 April 27, 2015 at 5:44 pm
Last Post: noctalla



Users browsing this thread: 4 Guest(s)