Originally posted by rstrats
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Belief a Conscious Choice?
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JohnnyP,
re: "Do you see anything in this example that doesn't meet requirements of your OP?"
I don't see where you give an example in your post #47.
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Originally posted by Jedidiah View PostThis whole thing is a bit off topic. Not all choices involve belief. If I am at a point where I must choose one of two options with no information I may well have to choose but that choice will not involve belief. Flip a coin does not mean I am going to believe the result, even if I act on it.
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Originally posted by JohnnyP View PostDo you see anything in this example that doesn't meet requirements of your OP?
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Originally posted by rstrats View PostJohnnyP,
re: " How do you instantaneously choose to believe that going right is better than left, or vice versa?"
I don't know. That's why I started this topic.
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Originally posted by rstrats View PostAdrift,
re: "I'm always mystified when this conversation comes up, because its been my personal experience that changing one's beliefs is actually quite easy to do."
So how about demonstrating your ability by doing as requested in the OP?
Pick up You Are Not Your Brain, I think it'll offer a lot of insight into how its possible for people to choose what they believe. Its been positively endorsed by people as diverse as the Christian apologist J.P. Moreland, the actor Leonardo DiCaprio, and adjunct professor emeritus in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Stanford University School of Medicine, David Burns.
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Adrift,
re: "I'm always mystified when this conversation comes up, because its been my personal experience that changing one's beliefs is actually quite easy to do."
So how about demonstrating your ability by doing as requested in the OP?
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I'm always mystified when this conversation comes up, because its been my personal experience that changing one's beliefs is actually quite easy to do. There have been a number of times in my life where I've decided that I will believe or not believe something all things considered equal. So, for instance, when I was younger I used to do roofing with my father, and found that I had a fear of heights. My fear was founded on the premise that if I got too close to the ledge, I would fall off the roof and severely injure myself or die. But I knew from watching other roofers that generally speaking this was not the case, so every day I would roof with my father I would force myself to look over the edge until I conquered my fear. I chose to believe that I would not die rather than that I would.
Here's another example, when I was a teen in the late 80s and early 90s my worldview was extremely confused, especially since I had recently disassociated myself from a cult. I felt I had so many questions that could not be answered, and I hovered between holding onto a belief in the divine, and rejecting it altogether. I was in this state of confusion and frustration for years. In my early 20s I found myself in a situation (in Basic Training) of complete despair and solitude, and then I remembered God, and his forgiveness and his love, and decided that from then on, despite whatever questions I was holding onto, I would make a purposeful choice to place my faith in him. I would stop hovering, and believe in him. And lo and behold, in my studies and walk in my faith, all of the questions I had were slowly yet surely answered, and I found that placing my faith in him was perfectly justified all along.
I know countless people over the years who have chosen their beliefs. Sometimes consciously and sometimes not so consciously. Paul says in Romans that we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, and I believe that renewing can come about through prayer, meditation, study, and even talking positive things over yourself. I recently read a terrific book by psychiatrist Jeffrey Schwarz called, You Are Not Your Brain: The 4-Step Solution for Changing Bad Habits, Ending Unhealthy Thinking, and Taking Control of Your Life. Its a fascinating read, and contains plenty of examples of people who were able to successfully change their beliefs for the better.Last edited by Adrift; 11-03-2014, 10:13 AM.
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Originally posted by rstrats View PostJohnnyP,
re: " How do you instantaneously choose to believe that going right is better than left, or vice versa?"
I don't know. That's why I started this topic.
I sometimes feel I want to cry:
I seek an answer, but instead I get many
To decide between;
And why is "X" any better than "Y"?
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Originally posted by rstrats View PostPaprika,
re: "...you're trying to perform a reductio ad absurdum on my understanding of belief/believe by assuming that I would translate John 3:16 using 'believe'.
How would you translate "believe" in John 3:16?
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JohnnyP,
re: " How do you instantaneously choose to believe that going right is better than left, or vice versa?"
I don't know. That's why I started this topic.
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Paprika,
re: "...you're trying to perform a reductio ad absurdum on my understanding of belief/believe by assuming that I would translate John 3:16 using 'believe'.
How would you translate "believe" in John 3:16?
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