Can people really choose what to believe?

Question

What do you think? Can you choose to believe something, or is belief something that is out of your control.
If you choose to believe something that your senses say is false, are you just tricking yourself?

*Sigh* Maybe I should phrase this another way.
Can you choose to NOT to believe a fact that is staring you in the face? Example, can you see a brick wall and choose to believe it is NOT there?

Answer 1

I really understand this question. I just really don't know how to truly answer it.... In my understanding, you can't just believe what you want to believe. You don't sit there and think about it and just say "I will believe -this-" It doesn't work like that.... You just believe whatever. You can't make yourself believe something. It just comes natural.

Answer 2

Of course you choose what to believe! That's why there are so many different beliefs in the world. If you didn't choose, then everyone would believe in the same things. The mind is also a tricky thing. You can trick yourself into believe just about anything; on purpose or not.

Answer 3

I think most people believe pretty much what their parents believed. It is the easy way out.

I quit my parents church at 45 and started searching. It only took 20 years but I am currently coming to some conclusions. I am currently writing my spiritual history and what I believe in. Writing it down seems to clarify.

Some conclusions: there is no hell, the bible is not the word of God, there are outside forces affecting our lives.

Answer 4

This is the point I try to make every day here.

I know that the majority of the "god" based religions out there are completely false. I say "the majority" because I don't know about every last one of them.

But I know that what the majority of people believe is not true. And for me to simply decide I was going to believe it... well... that's just not possible. It would be possible if I was starved, tortured, and brainwashed, for example. (The tactic often employed to make POWs believe their captors are their friends, etc.)

But I'd really rather not subject myself to that.

Answer 5

well DUH all organized religion is man made. You can pick whatever one rocks your boat the most. You may be born a Jew, but no one will stop you from converting to mormonism or orthodoxy - as long as you pay their thithing and become an upstanding member of the congregation.
I personally dont belive in organized religion . I believe in personal faith. Without faith, you can go to whatever CHURCH you want and it will all be false and bogus, b/c you are just following the herd and worshipping with the masses. Religion should come from within yourself. I think some of the most amazing good people are the ones who dont go to church at all but just sincerely believe....

Answer 6

One absolutely chooses what to believe. The facts may offer strong recommendations, but look how many people follow religious dogma?

Answer 7

What is the origion of your 'senses'? Of course you can believe what you want. If you brought up in a certain faith for along time, it's probably natural to question it. Especially when you see a bunch of people saying what a bunch of poppy-cock it is. But what if they're wrong?

Answer 8

That's a really good question. I think the answer is no. Your belief system is entirely based on your experiences, your knowledge, etc. What you can do, though, is change that background, enriching it with further and more varied experience, so you enhance your knowledge, and that will necessarily, sooner or later, make you change your beliefs.

Answer 9

Free will is the basis of all faiths. "Choosing" to believe is the fundamental definition of the term. If your senses (meaning instinct?) are telling you something is false you don't have faith in it no matter what you try to tell yourself.

Answer 10

i believe that we should choose to believe things. me however was raised to believe certain things pertaining to religion, and now as an adult i have an issue with religion, especially organized.
so i am lost now as what to do, and yes , if do not believe what you are being taught yet you just go along with it, for your families sake or whatever may be the reason, you are fooling yourself.
IMHO : )

Answer 11

Of course! How can you ever believe in something that you sense is false?? Are you kidding??!!

I mean, if you drive your vehicle and know that you have faulty brakes, would you still be willing to drive it?? You need to BELIEVE and KNOW that your brakes DO WORK, won't you?? Come on...