Are our beliefs under the control of the will, and if not, can we still be rational?

Question

In one of J.P. Moreland's books, he argues that unless we are able to choose our beliefs, our beliefs cannot be rational. He basis that on the fact that our beliefs are either determined or chosen, and if they are determined, then they are not rational.

However, in one of his lectures, he argues that our beliefs are not under the control of the will. To prove his point, he said to imagine somebody offering you a million dollars to choose to believe that there's a pink elephant flying around over your head. He said that even with a million dollar motivation, you couldn't simply choose to believe it, because your beliefs are not under the control of the will.

So which is it? Are our beliefs under the control of the will? If not, can we still be rational?

Answer 1

Everyone chooses their set of beliefs mostly according to what makes more sense to them or according to what may be logically inferred if they are rational.

The Bible is God's proposition to mankind and people may choose to believe it or not. If His set of propositions are true and rational enough to have confidence in the validity of them and confidence in the integrity of Him then your faith is based on rational validity and you maintain intellectual integrity.

You also have a reference point for your epistimology.

Answer 2

Our beliefs may not be under the control of our will, but choice is greatly involved. Considering beliefs being willed...that's why faith is such an accomplishment. To believe in "things hoped for but not yet beheld". The Bible says that if we had faith the size of a mustard seed we could move mountains. Yet we are to 'walk by faith'. The Bible encourages us to 'choose whom we will serve'. There is no power greater than our ability to choose. Not that god is not all powerful, but he allows us to choose. So we not be a living mass of robots. The Bible encouraes us, teaches us, keeps things straight, so that we can make wise choices.

Answer 3

We have free will to choose to believe, but once we believe I am influenced or under the control of the Holy Spirit. Jesus liberated us because Jesus can make us free.

Our problem is that we have the freedom to degenerate our children. Our free will is severely impaired by our heritage of alcohol, tobacco, anger, fighting, drugs, greed and just pure evil on top of addictions. Familiar spirits are even passed down. If mothers who say they love their children knew what their bad habits did for their children, they would run to Jesus and beg to be set free.

Answer 4

That's a damn fine question!
I think it depends on your initial programming...For instance, if a child is raised to believe in God, then that is the FOUNDATION of its reality, and it would take a massive overhaul of perception to change...If a child is taught to be rational then they may alter their belief system AS LONG AS IT CORRESPONDS TO RATIONALITY...So, if a child were taught that whatever is spoken, BECOMES REAL in a nearby dimension and can be brought into ours through faith, well, I guess we have our million dollar winner!

In short beliefs ARE NOT CAPABLE OF BEING RATIONAL, in and of themselves, they are only temporary and often symbolic grasping of the truth that we will never fully comprehend...If more people could accept that without fear, our world would (I BELIEVE ;) be a better place.

Answer 5

For a million dollars I could suspend my disbelief sufficiently to believe in a pink flying elephant friend, I could probably do it for a lot less.

Answer 6

Believe me, if I was offered a million, if I could see a pink elephant, I WOULD SEE IT!
Stupid question, don't believe EVERYTHING you read!

Answer 7

We must believe that it is a true thing. Beyond a shadow of a doubt.