Well isn't all that pure semantics, as I began by saying. Yes belief requires a train of logic to arrive at a decision.. it is a decision nonetheless.
You try too hard to equate it to something dissimilar, like belief in something tangible. Like the nose on your face. You will excuse this absurdity by claiming exclusivity, like belief HAS to be only in tangible things... and around and around that old roundabout we go.
I could hate believing what I do. People don't choose persecution or imprisonment or death because of their beliefs I'm sure. They always have the choice to lie and get away with it. People believe to that extent because they're that sure that they're right.
If belief isn't a choice, then was I born believing in the Christian God and found the bible to reiterate what I believe? If I was then was everyone? You are of course a believing Christian but in denial. You deny the truth of it, and some day maybe you'll realise and say that you believe. Would the realisation be a choice? A change of heart? Would you choose to do what's true to you over what isn't true to you?
Bottom line. Christianity is a choice. It's defined as that in Christianity. God shines his light on you and you have the choice to accept or deny it. This is a Christian POV. We're talking Christianity here, nothing else. Zen Bhuddism is interesting sure, but that has nothing to do with the subject in hand.
You try too hard to equate it to something dissimilar, like belief in something tangible. Like the nose on your face. You will excuse this absurdity by claiming exclusivity, like belief HAS to be only in tangible things... and around and around that old roundabout we go.
I could hate believing what I do. People don't choose persecution or imprisonment or death because of their beliefs I'm sure. They always have the choice to lie and get away with it. People believe to that extent because they're that sure that they're right.
If belief isn't a choice, then was I born believing in the Christian God and found the bible to reiterate what I believe? If I was then was everyone? You are of course a believing Christian but in denial. You deny the truth of it, and some day maybe you'll realise and say that you believe. Would the realisation be a choice? A change of heart? Would you choose to do what's true to you over what isn't true to you?
Bottom line. Christianity is a choice. It's defined as that in Christianity. God shines his light on you and you have the choice to accept or deny it. This is a Christian POV. We're talking Christianity here, nothing else. Zen Bhuddism is interesting sure, but that has nothing to do with the subject in hand.
