What would it take to change your beliefs?

Question

I know this isn't the most unique question, but feh. so what.

to everyone, what would it take to change your beliefs? that is, if your religious, what would it take to "prove" to you that god doesn't exist. if your atheist, what would it take to prove to you that God/meatphysics/spirituality was real?

personally I think it'd be very hard to prove such to me, as most of my beliefs are reinforced by personal experience. I honestly can't imagine anything specific that would disprove it to me summarily.

and also, how do you think it would change you, or your actions, thoughts, ect, if such occured? would it be an easy change? would you go insane? what?

edit: I was meaning what sort of personal experience, if you can concieve of one that would do it.

Answer 1

Nothing. It cannot happen. I have repented, been baptized in Jesus' Name, and bee filled with the Holy Ghost. 'Nuff said

Answer 2

This is very simple. If you find out that what you have learned before was wrong, what would you do? You were forced to believe, example 1+1=5. Later on you find out, with sufficient data and proving that this is wrong, of course, you must turn away from it. Change.
Same goes with religion.
When we were young, we were forced to believe in santa clause and reindeers and mistletoes etc. Now, we know that these were false beliefs. We cannot blame our parents. It's their religion that taught them that. Take your stand. Look for the undefiled religion. God will not forsake you if you will diligently search.
But be careful. As John said in 1 John 4:1;
"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."

Follow the standard given by God through the apostles in Romans 7:12;
"Wherefor the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good."
See if they speak according to the Holy Scriptures. If not, look for more. God promised, "Seek and you shall find."
What are we to seek for?
Matthew 6:33;
"But seek ye FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousnes; and all these things shall be added unto you."

Answer 3

Ever since I've been here I've been trying to get an answer to this question: "Why is the Christian God more believable than all the other thousands of supposed "gods" that other people believe?" If I ever get a convincing answer to that question, I would definitely rethink my position. I would have no problem doing that. But the thing is, so far it hasn't been answered, so I remain a non-Christian.

It would probably change my thoughts a lot, because I'm definitely not used to following a religion, but again... if someone can convince me, then I'm all for it. But honestly, I highly doubt that anyone will ever convince me.

Answer 4

Nothing can be summed up I guess. I guess it depends on the time and the day that a person's presented with the circumstances with which he could change his beliefs. Most everybody I know changed their beliefs at some point. But interestingly enough, they tend to go back to their original beliefs after awhile. I guess there's something to be said about samsara and rebirth (Hindu belief where our main beliefs, ideals, thoughts, mental capacity, presence is transferred at the end of this life to the next).

Answer 5

Well, with religion, evidence is nice, but not the deciding factor for me. I just want it to make sense.

If I was asked to join a religion that had a special ritual on on every other half moon where I had to swing a dead cat over my head while doing the moccaraina, I would really want to know why this was important. And if all I got was, " our go demands it " then I'm out. Regardless of any proof they could offer, I would not follow the religion just out of principle.

I like to think of myself as a christian. But even I have my doubts as I look at the bible from time to time.

Answer 6

I agree: changing beliefs is not easy, but I would do so given adequate evidence that my beliefs were erroneous. Since I have been collecting evidence supporting them for decades, this is obviously no small task. Still, as a scientist, I must be open to new evidence and consider it carefully. That is one of the reasons that I participate in this forum: to test my beliefs against those of others, in the hope of finding something that I may have missed. But it hasn't happened yet.

Answer 7

I think it's very easy for a peron's beliefs to change. If life circumstances change dramatically, and the old belief system isn't working out, one will probably look for a new belief system. I've seen it happen with just about everyone I know.

Answer 8

It would take the Christian god showing his face directly into mine and showing me something that couldn't possibly be done by any living through through any technology invented.

Like, maybe taking me to travel through time. Or giving me the chance to hug my mother again, tell her I love her, and chat with her a while (she died in 2003) and she's well and whole. Something no one and nothing else can possibly do.

No, I wouldn't go insane. I'm far too strong for that. It wouldn't change much other than that I'd actually believe in him. I still wouldn't believe in the bible.

Answer 9

I did change my beliefs. I was raised a Christian, and as I could not accept that G-d is a trinity, and that I found a people whose history I admired, I converted to Judaism. Later, I found a Jewish community of Mid-eastern/Mediterranean people, that I dearly love. I am very happy here.

Answer 10

I don't have what I would call beliefs; I have a few ideas that I'm pondering; and the way I look at them changes a little from day to day, just as I change a little bit each day.

Answer 11

Seeing is believing - and I'm not talking about some smoke and mirrors parlor trick. I'm talking about god or some angel comming down, and taking me up for a visit to see what heaven looks like.