"Choosing to Believe"

[Nobleman]

I am unsure where in the 'outer court' I should initiate this conversation, but Apologetics seems most appropriate, and since this is inspired in part by a conversation happening in this "Universal Moral Law" subsection, I put it here. If this needs to move, I hope it won't become hard for me to find.

"You do/don't believe that, and that's your choice." -- This is a comment often made when discussing religious beliefs, but I think the idea of 'choosing' beliefs needs to be examined more closely. Most of my beliefs are not 'chosen', so the appropriateness of saying my beliefs on this or that religious matter are 'chosen' needs to be questioned.

Let's start by looking at some everyday statements of belief: "I believe Janet went to Target to look for shoes; she should be back in an hour or so." "I believe that Sydney is not, in fact, the capital of Australia." "I believe I have enough money to fill the car's gas tank." I think it would be very strange to consider any of these beliefs choices-- I don't see how I could just arbitrarily 'choose' to believe that Janet is skydiving, or shopping at K-Mart instead of Target. I can't just choose to declare my faith that Sydney is indeed the capital of Australia when nagging in the back of my head is that it might be Canberra, might be something else, but *just isn't* Sydney. I think I know approximately how much money is in my wallet, how empty my gas tank is, and about how much gas costs... I can't just choose to change these estimates without double-checking, and whether the double-check confirmed or altered my previous belief, I still don't see how the new evidence makes whatever resultant belief I have count as 'chosen.'

Often, when "Well you believe that, and that's your choice" comes up in conversation, there's an implication that I somehow *prefer* whatever belief I have to the alternative. This, too, strikes me as odd, because I often reach beliefs/conclusions/opinions that I wish were otherwise. Wouldn't I prefer to believe myself fabulously wealthy, a genius, and a world-class singer? In one sense, yes, except that that would mean I'm delusional. The evidence that I have available to me compels me to admit I am wealthy by world standards but not American standards, really smart but not genius, and a decent singer but not professional-grade, let alone world-class.

If I believe something is not the case, I don't see how I could simply 'choose' to believe it was the case any more than a person who hates coffee could choose to like it.

Why does this matter?

One is morally responsible for one's choices. I am not in any way denying that we make choices. However, if one's beliefs are not chosen (and I'm arguing that most of the time, in the ordinary sense of 'choice,' our beliefs are not), then believing X instead of Y is presumably morally neutral, neither commendable nor reprehensible in itself.

This matters because some Christians sometimes attempt to place a moral value on beliefs, and do so via the rhetoric that beliefs are 'chosen' somehow.

There is a moral world of difference, then, between saying someone somehow "chooses" not to believe Christian claims about Jesus, versus saying the person is honestly unconvinced by them. (I really value honesty, and think God does as well.) I'm arguing that "Well, they choose not to believe in Jesus" might be incoherent, and placing a moralistic burden where it does not belong.

First, let's clarify what it means to believe-- to believe is to be persuaded or convinced of something, not simply an assumption or a guess.

To believe the Gospel is to have heard it and to be persuaded or convinced of its veracity.

To believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour is to have heard of Him and to be persuaded or convinced that what you have heard is true.

Your argument, therefore, is feeble, since the "beliefs" you cite as illustrations are not beliefs at all.

Yes, you hear the Gospel and choose whether to believe, depending on if or not you are convinced that the message is true. To believe is, therefore, a matter of choice. You must be convinced or persuaded that the message is true in order to believe, by choice.

Please, don't confuse choice with personal preference, it will weaken your case even further.

You can refuse to believe the truth, but the truth will always be truth. The Gospel is preached to all of us, but according to the Bible, "whoever believes" will have everlasting life. There is, therein an element of choice that cannot be denied.

N~