If one has no free will, then one cannot 'choose' what to believe. The problem is that within the 'system', we have no way to prove free will exists. (Though there is substantial empirical data that suggests it does not.)
If one has free will and 'chooses' to believe or not, there would be no discernible difference if there were no free will for the mind would 'convince' us that we had made the 'choice' of our own 'free will'.
With that said, it would seem prudent to accept free will as a fact and accept the responsibilities/consequences involved in making a choice. If we do not have free will, then all is moot anyway.
Elaborating on the original question, we do not have full control of everything in our life that will ultimately lead to our decision whether or not to believe. Therefore, to answer the original question yes requires the qualified, "yes, but not full control".
If one has free will and 'chooses' to believe or not, there would be no discernible difference if there were no free will for the mind would 'convince' us that we had made the 'choice' of our own 'free will'.
With that said, it would seem prudent to accept free will as a fact and accept the responsibilities/consequences involved in making a choice. If we do not have free will, then all is moot anyway.
Elaborating on the original question, we do not have full control of everything in our life that will ultimately lead to our decision whether or not to believe. Therefore, to answer the original question yes requires the qualified, "yes, but not full control".
You make people miserable and there's nothing they can do about it, just like god.
-- Homer Simpson
God has no place within these walls, just as facts have no place within organized religion.
-- Superintendent Chalmers
Science is like a blabbermouth who ruins a movie by telling you how it ends. There are some things we don't want to know. Important things.
-- Ned Flanders
Once something's been approved by the government, it's no longer immoral.
-- The Rev Lovejoy
-- Homer Simpson
God has no place within these walls, just as facts have no place within organized religion.
-- Superintendent Chalmers
Science is like a blabbermouth who ruins a movie by telling you how it ends. There are some things we don't want to know. Important things.
-- Ned Flanders
Once something's been approved by the government, it's no longer immoral.
-- The Rev Lovejoy