RE: Is belief in God a choice
August 31, 2009 at 4:21 am
(This post was last modified: August 31, 2009 at 4:28 am by Oldandeasilyconfused.)
Quote:Belief in something is not a choice ... belief is the result of a rationalisation process (horribly twisted in theists I know) that brings that person to a particular POV.
Not sure that's correct. Most people I know received their religious beliefs as very young children, well under 'the age of reason'. As children we believe implicitly what our parents tell us,about the world,god,other people and ourselves.
We do not use reason to form our basic world view,attitudes and beliefs.We at least try to use reason and rational though to maintain or modify our views and to justify our behaviour.We seldom succeed 100%.
My observation is that the commonly held view that theists are somehow less rational [as a group] than atheists,is a fiction invented by insecure atheists. I've seen no evidence to support such a view.
However,as I've said before,my atheism is not a choice,but an inescapable conclusion reached after many years trying to avoid that conclusion.Perhaps that's why I'm often so contemptuous of the theists who infest atheist forums;their apologist position is old tired and boring.
