Father Heathen
Veteran Member
Willful ignorance is a choice.
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Is belief a choice?
- Thread starter idav
- Start date
Kinda could figure for "willful" being there
Muffled
Jesus in me
When I look at a peice of cloth I don't see the holes between the threads. I can understand a person digging deeper and findining the holes but I have trouble understanding why the person fails to return to the reality that it is a cloth with threads and the holes are meant to be there so it will breathe.
Muffled
Jesus in me
There are two kinds of belief.
1. Belief that is based on evidence.
2. Belief that is based on faith
Sometimes the two will clash as when faith is contrary to evidence.
Muffled
Jesus in me
I believe all belief is by choice. Granted that some evidences are so strong that it is difficult to believe to the contrary. some people do anyway.
I can believe what God says because I have faith in Him
I have more trouble believing scientists because they are so often in error.
I believe that some beliefs are based on ignorance but my experience with Biblical false beliefs is that they are based on a misinterpretation of evidence. I believe that many scientific beliefs also come from a misinterpretation of evidence.
For instance I believe on evolution a scientist who doesn't believe in it will interpret the evidence as pointing against evolution but a scientist who believes in evolution will interpret the evidence as supporting it.
Father Heathen
Veteran Member
:tribal::cheese::ymca::band::magic::danana::surf:
Really? Let's try a test: for the next twenty-four hours choose to believe that idav is a leprechaun.
:clap Excellent summation.
One would choose whether to go by faith. Choosing based on evidence is also a choice.
So is believing something that hasn't been seen.
:clover:
Draka
Wonder Woman
I can no sooner choose my beliefs than I can just up and choose to be 6'7". Just can't do it. Impossible.
You can't just tell me to believe something and expect me to believe it just because you do. I must have some reason to. I must have something which compels me to. What compels you may not compel me. I may need more. I may have already been compelled by something else. Something you have not been exposed to. Which is why I may believe something entirely different than you. I cannot just change that belief easily because of what I have seen/witnessed/experienced. It is NOT a choice. I may have something which has profoundly affected me which has given me cause to believe in the manner in which I do. How is that a "choice"? Are either of you saying that one should be able to "choose" to ignore their life experiences, logic, reasoning, memories and everything else in favor of ...what?...what your particular beliefs are? Because you believe you're ...right?
If i said I believe there is a purple dragon in my garage it would be a choice to have that sort of faith. If it wasn't through faith then I should be able to provide the picture and it wouldn't just be belief, I would know.
Actually I coerced Iti and Revoltingest into joining our social club of The Willfully Ignorant, with my irresistible charm. :flirt:
(Well, that and Twinkies)
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When you think about flipping the light switch to turn the lights on, do you not have faith that they will turn on when you flip the switch? For that instant you can't know for certain they will turn on--the bulb might be burned out, the power might be off, the switch might be defective. However, do these possibilities keep you from flipping the switch?
Draka
Wonder Woman
It wouldn't be simply a choice. If you believed there was a purple dragon in your garage, if you honestly really believed that, then you must have had some reason behind that belief. Some experience which led you to that belief. Something which happened which you cannot internally deny which causes you to believe as such. I cannot simply choose to believe that there is a fairy sitting atop my monitor without cause to do so. If I had been given cause then I could not deny such and there would be no choice involved.
How long would you be able to remain sane if you doubted everything you have faith and believe in? Is paranoia a lack of faith?
Maybe someone from RF told me about said dragon and I just took their word for it. Doesn't matter what compels me what matters is what I choose to believe. It could even be by faith alone based on some book.
That is why faith is sometimes easier than doubt. I can go about the day that everything will turn on correctly and all the lights will be green, doesn't mean it will happen but doesn't hurt to act as if it were going to happen as imagined, that is until I have to stop at the first pesky red light.
Etymologically, belief means beloved. Is love a choice? Is love really genuine if no real choice is involved?
I said it is a choice though. Is it genuine if it wasn't by choice?
That's the real question, isn't it? Who wants counterfeit love?