Quote:Nevertheless, if we granted that we are capable of "choosing" some things, that would not establish that we can "choose" all things.
True enough.
Quote:I could choose to light my cig, for example, but that wouldn't establish that I choose to believe something.
True.
Quote:What? Why was it needed? Now we're really headed down the rabbit hole.
Because we had intelligence and communication and we needed harmony, etc...we wouldn't be satisfied doing things without believing intrinsic value to that, even if that value was in an instance serving ourselves. But it's mostly for others and doing good to others, and getting positive feed back.
We also wouldn't have structure of morality, if no one praised any action or person.
Quote:See above. Wouldn't matter anyway, I'm not demanding that anyone make a choice about their beliefs in a vacuum. I just want to see them make the choice. It would be nice if they could do it right now, or on demand, but if they can't I have time to spare - I'll wait. Until then - however-, I'm going to continue to call massive bullshit. The whole choice song and dance is about insultingly transparent.
But if he made a decision, what can he possibly say that shows he made a decision with regards to belief?
If I said I chose to believe 9/11 was wrong in my teens, when at a moment it was confusing...I had to make a decision...and now that I've grown stronger in that decision, in seeing it's wrong...etc...how am I suppose to demonstrate the "will" in that and the choice?
It's unseen, and can't be proven empirically but perhaps, perhaps, can be witnessed via experience of your own decisions of beliefs.
