Is belief a choice?

Ikas90 · 21-12-11, 16:27

Someone once told me, that belief is not a choice. You either believe something, or you don't.

I've never been able to answer this question. I think my belief that God exists is simply my belief, but I also partly believe that my belief is a choice, as it is for others. I for one don't like the idea of a God not existing, so that makes it harder for me to accept the alternative, meaning my perspective must be biased. But at the same time, believing in God seems to be in my nature.

I'm hoping some of you can shed some light on the matter and/or provide thoughtful insight.

What is belief really? Choice or not?

Scorpio1991 · 21-12-11, 16:36

Belief, is complicated...
But, yes I would say it is a choice because we choose to believe in whatever we believe in

Rai · 21-12-11, 16:55

I think it can depend on how you're brought up. If, for instance, you have parents who have strong beliefs, then you're more likely (perhaps) to have the same beliefs. But beliefs can change as you get older too, so yes, it is a choice. I was brought up by parents who didn't try to force any particular belief (or non belief) onto me or my sisters and we were left to make our own choices which I am very happy about. I tried to not impart any of my personal beliefs onto my son as well. Likewise, if parents have no strong beliefs a child may learn or choose differently.

Admles · 21-12-11, 17:11

I don't think this is really a Yes / No answer question.

For instance, I knew a guy who insisted that atheists are people who just chose not to believe in God, which is untrue. I have never seen anything that would make me believe in a God, so I didn't really "choose" either way at all.

You may be brought up in a religious household, and have never known any life different so you follow that out of habit - did you really "choose" it? Not necessarily.

Ikas90 · 21-12-11, 17:16

I think it can work both ways. People can be in denial.

Also choice could be an illusion couldn't it? Like free will.

MiCkiZ88 · 21-12-11, 17:17

I agree with Admles. You can't really answer it with a yes or no because it varies from person to person. I was brought up in a semi religious household, my mother being religious and dad agnostic, so I have rather open views on everything. I didn't choose to believe in God, and I still am not sure if there is one God or not, but I do have have my beliefs which I've either taken over from my mother or I've started to believe in them by life experiences.

So I guess my answer would be: Through life you acquire certain beliefs or disbeliefs.

The Great Chi · 21-12-11, 17:21

From the religious point of view of belief.
Yes, you do have a choice when you are more adult.

When you are a child you are brought up with the believes of your parents and grand-parents, but as you get older and hopefully lucky enough to see and learn the numerous religions of the world, you begin to wonder why am I stuck to this one belief system just because of who I was born to, and even due the region and location of my birth, which affects my religon.

I was lucky, I moved around the world as my life progressed, seeing all religions, Eastern and Western and the one point that makes sense of them all, is to try and do good in the world, be good and try to conquer evil in all its manifestations.

I believe in life after death, but I do not like one of the eastern pholosphies of my grandparents that you return to part of the whole when you die, I like the western ideology better of being an individual spirit or soul, that retains individuality as you return to the spirit. So I have modified my own belief system to that of the West.

I just hope I am right or I will have to write a split-personality letter of complaint to God, if I am no longer an individual

knightgames · 21-12-11, 18:05

Belief without sustained growth and reason isn't belief, but memorization or indoctrination. Belief is fostered by understanding what it is you are presented.

Cochrane · 21-12-11, 18:59

I don't think I could simply say "okay, now I believe in God". There are reasons why I don't believe in him, and as long as these reasons remain, I would always doubt myself if I said "I believe". I think the only way I could ever believe in any deity would be if my understanding of the world was drastically altered.

So, on a fundamental level, I don't think you can choose to believe (or not to). You have an idea what the world is like, what it should be like, and whether you believe or not follows from that.

larafan25 · 21-12-11, 20:20

I think that some of a belief is a choice, a choice to accept a piece of knowledge versus another piece of knowledge or versus the option of not having that knowledge at all.

However, if you don't know anything but that belief, then it's all there is, and theres nothing to contradict or question the belief, so in that case it is not a choice.

:/

21-12-11, 16:27	#1
Ikas90 Tomb Raider Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Australia ♂ Posts: 20,276	Is belief a choice? Someone once told me, that belief is not a choice. You either believe something, or you don't. I've never been able to answer this question. I think my belief that God exists is simply my belief, but I also partly believe that my belief is a choice, as it is for others. I for one don't like the idea of a God not existing, so that makes it harder for me to accept the alternative, meaning my perspective must be biased. But at the same time, believing in God seems to be in my nature. I'm hoping some of you can shed some light on the matter and/or provide thoughtful insight. What is belief really? Choice or not? __________________ Success starts with believing in yourself.

21-12-11, 16:55	#3
Rai Moderator Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: UnKnown, the bubble popped Posts: 17,992	I think it can depend on how you're brought up. If, for instance, you have parents who have strong beliefs, then you're more likely (perhaps) to have the same beliefs. But beliefs can change as you get older too, so yes, it is a choice. I was brought up by parents who didn't try to force any particular belief (or non belief) onto me or my sisters and we were left to make our own choices which I am very happy about. I tried to not impart any of my personal beliefs onto my son as well. Likewise, if parents have no strong beliefs a child may learn or choose differently. __________________ I’m tired of being in this slumber: Procrastination, I have your number!

21-12-11, 17:11	#4
Admles Moderator Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Caboolture, Australia Posts: 10,880	I don't think this is really a Yes / No answer question. For instance, I knew a guy who insisted that atheists are people who just chose not to believe in God, which is untrue. I have never seen anything that would make me believe in a God, so I didn't really "choose" either way at all. You may be brought up in a religious household, and have never known any life different so you follow that out of habit - did you really "choose" it? Not necessarily. __________________ The spiritual power of man’s will removes all obstacles - Bruce Lee

21-12-11, 17:16	#5
Ikas90 Tomb Raider Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Australia ♂ Posts: 20,276	I think it can work both ways. People can be in denial. Also choice could be an illusion couldn't it? Like free will. __________________ Success starts with believing in yourself.

21-12-11, 17:17	#6
MiCkiZ88 Legend Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Tampere, Finland Gender: Male Posts: 39,425	I agree with Admles. You can't really answer it with a yes or no because it varies from person to person. I was brought up in a semi religious household, my mother being religious and dad agnostic, so I have rather open views on everything. I didn't choose to believe in God, and I still am not sure if there is one God or not, but I do have have my beliefs which I've either taken over from my mother or I've started to believe in them by life experiences. So I guess my answer would be: Through life you acquire certain beliefs or disbeliefs. __________________ Take a step back to know I'm there.

21-12-11, 16:36	#2
Scorpio1991 Archaeologist Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Washington, USA Gender: Male Posts: 2,084	Belief, is complicated... But, yes I would say it is a choice because we choose to believe in whatever we believe in

21-12-11, 17:21	#7
The Great Chi The Inscrutable One Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Beyond the Floating Islands Posts: 7,223	From the religious point of view of belief. Yes, you do have a choice when you are more adult. When you are a child you are brought up with the believes of your parents and grand-parents, but as you get older and hopefully lucky enough to see and learn the numerous religions of the world, you begin to wonder why am I stuck to this one belief system just because of who I was born to, and even due the region and location of my birth, which affects my religon. I was lucky, I moved around the world as my life progressed, seeing all religions, Eastern and Western and the one point that makes sense of them all, is to try and do good in the world, be good and try to conquer evil in all its manifestations. I believe in life after death, but I do not like one of the eastern pholosphies of my grandparents that you return to part of the whole when you die, I like the western ideology better of being an individual spirit or soul, that retains individuality as you return to the spirit. So I have modified my own belief system to that of the West. I just hope I am right or I will have to write a split-personality letter of complaint to God, if I am no longer an individual __________________ Humble words from the Great Chi Last edited by The Great Chi; 21-12-11 at 17:24.

21-12-11, 18:05	#8
knightgames Professor Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 3,152	Belief without sustained growth and reason isn't belief, but memorization or indoctrination. Belief is fostered by understanding what it is you are presented.

21-12-11, 18:59	#9
Cochrane Tomb Raider Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: In Germany Gender: I'm male Classification: Evil Posts: 11,935	I don't think I could simply say "okay, now I believe in God". There are reasons why I don't believe in him, and as long as these reasons remain, I would always doubt myself if I said "I believe". I think the only way I could ever believe in any deity would be if my understanding of the world was drastically altered. So, on a fundamental level, I don't think you can choose to believe (or not to). You have an idea what the world is like, what it should be like, and whether you believe or not follows from that. __________________ Güter auf die Bahn!

21-12-11, 20:20	#10
larafan25 Legend Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Stuck in Bolivia Gender: Ghetto New-t Aptitude: Officially FAK Trained Posts: 53,840	I think that some of a belief is a choice, a choice to accept a piece of knowledge versus another piece of knowledge or versus the option of not having that knowledge at all. However, if you don't know anything but that belief, then it's all there is, and theres nothing to contradict or question the belief, so in that case it is not a choice. :/ __________________ Okay, I'm a crab again.