(March 10, 2014 at 12:45 pm)pocaracas Wrote:(March 10, 2014 at 12:14 pm)Deidre32 Wrote: I was once a follower of Christianity so I "get it." But, one has to redefine how he/she perceives reality in the truest sense of the word, for the spiritual realm might seem real, but it isn't.I wouldn't have worded it like that...
Feelings, coincidental outcomes that seem to have sprung forth from prayer, opinion, etc...are not based on objective reality. It is far better for a religious person to say, "I choose to believe that God exists," rather than "Jesus is alive!"
I don't think people choose to believe in whatever... It looks more like they have no choice on the matter... they just believe.
After adequate instruction, they may either choose to dismiss anything that brings that belief into question, or come to the point where they no longer believe.
This too is incorrect. I am a moral free agent who possesses volitional capabilities. My choices regarding my beliefs are not compulsory, but voluntary.
