Just for five minutes, I want you to choose believe that the leprechans and fairies in my bedroom closet like to whittle little figurines of Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Mohummad in a group hug.
So, if believing is a choice, were you able to believe this?
2007-10-19 12:35:46 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
PAULO:
Nice non-answer.
How is this any different from anything else you believe?
2007-10-19 12:44:39 · update #1
Sen B:
God is mythical as well. What's your point?
Nice way to not answer the question.
Could you do it or not? If not, then belief is clearly NOT a choice.
2007-10-19 12:45:43 · update #2
Vera C:
I didn't ask if you could imagine it. I asked if you could truly consider it true and factual beyond all shadow of doubt that indeed, there are such beings in my closet making such figurines.
2007-10-19 12:47:19 · update #3
Millie C:
Strange that I should spend four years in prayerful pleading that he should do so and bless my efforts to become a minister of his Word and he did not.
The silence of the deity you claim exists is no different to me than the silence of my leprechans to you.
Further, your claim is that SOMETHING happened that MADE you believe. You personally had experiences you attribute to divine intervension. As such, you're not CHOOSING to believe in God, you feel you have sufficient evidence to believe.
Where's the choice?
2007-10-19 12:53:09 · update #4
lookn2cjc:
I really would like an answer to my question. Quoting a false book is not an answer.
The simple fact is, every psychological study ever done shows that people's beliefs are not chosen. They are a consequence of observation and experience.
So, with all due respect my friend, either try the experiment, and report your results, or please don't post non-answers.
2007-10-19 13:11:20 · update #5
Sen b:
Your appeal to the teleological argument (stuff exists, therefore, there must be a first cause and this first cause must be a divine being or force) is erroneous. It requires numerous unfounded a priori assumptions.
But let us assume that in fact the teleological argument is valid. Then the existence of everything is proof of a deity of some sort.
Why then would acknowledging a deity require belief or faith?
You can't have it both ways.
2007-10-19 13:16:47 · update #6
Saved by Grace:
Pity free will is demonstratably false as well.
2007-10-19 14:52:01 · update #7
Yes, I was able to believe this because I have a great imagination.
2007-10-19 12:38:39 · answer #1 · answered by Vera C 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The difference being Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad where real people, leprechauns and fairies are mythical big difference......
EDIT
You never mentioned God in your question did you? No. I stated the prophets where not mythical, way to not read an answer. God is not mythical. Is the air you are breathing mythical? Is the earth you walk on mythical? Are these not created by a power a force? Call the force whatever you like its not mythical though is it? or is all the universe a myth too?
2007-10-19 19:41:43 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Belief is a decision to accept or deny a notion based on feelings rather than on intellect. Yes I agree that there is little difference between this an what you call "choice" but that isn't quite so, is it?
The example you suggested failed to meet satisfactory standards of my intellect... I could see that it was far beyond my ability to believe it right off the bat. I could never choose to accept something as far fetched as that, ( ...as long as were here already, I'll add that God belief strikes me in precisely the same way.) However, given a convincing set of data and a rational conclusion on any subject you choose would certainly swing the other way.
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb62/Randall_Fleck/atheist_imagesGIF.gif
[][][] r u randy? [][][]
.
2007-10-20 01:39:36 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
You are right, belief is not a choice. But WANTING to believe is.
I can show you hundreds of thousands of documents that point to the existence of Jesus Christ, and you can still shrug and say "unless they have it on video, I don't buy it." That is your CHOICE.
You don't WANT to believe in Jesus Christ because there is a particular sin that you are very fond of committing (or several) and you want to do it so much, you reject God and His teachings. Our hearts and wicked and corrupt, are they not? And what does it profit a man if you gain the whole world but lose your soul? A pity.
I bet you even want to believe that you're not evil, too. So despite all of the evidence to the contrary, you convince yourself that humanity, and you in particular, are good, kind-hearted and warm-natured folk that only get better with time and age. I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but we are all evil. No single raindrop ever blamed itself for a flood.
2007-10-19 22:54:14 · answer #4 · answered by Last Ent Wife (RCIA) 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Because the leprechauns in your closet have not revealed or manifested themselves to me, but that can be because I have not been seeking them with all of my heart. However if I seek them with all my heart, might and soul, call upon their names and still they do not answer then I will have to cease my active part in reaching them. But for my God that is the exact point that he reaches you and shows himself real to you. Maybe because you have not made this endeavor God will always be to you a leprechaun in your closet to you.
2007-10-19 19:50:28 · answer #5 · answered by Millie C 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is written....That "IF" (there's your prerogative to CHOOSE) thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, AND shalt BELIEVE in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Romans 10:9. I don't BELIEVE in debating the Gospel, Hun, I can merely PROCLAIM it. I did a blog on Debating with Atheists.....which something tells me you really aren't.....I feel you're searching, and I applaud you for your search for truth whether you do it through sarcastic means or not....we've all been there. It won't stop me from praying for you.....HUGZZZ! XXXX
2007-10-19 20:04:31 · answer #6 · answered by lookn2cjc 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
"Due respect" is something that you've failed to show everyone who's tried to give a reasonable response to your obvious attempt to amuse yourself at our expense. To believe (or not) IS a choice, because we DO have free will. In the future, I hope my more intelligent brothers & sisters will give your questions their due respect -- & ignore them!
2007-10-19 20:33:27 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
sure, there's 3 of them and one has a drinking problem.
the other 2 have irish accents
your closet is white and one of those foldy kinds.
Abraham is wearing a toga
lost.eu/21618
2007-10-19 19:39:43 · answer #8 · answered by Quailman 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No but I believe you should step away from the bottle....
Get A Grip
2007-10-19 19:38:37 · answer #9 · answered by Get A Grip 6 · 3⤊ 2⤋
no because there are no little figurines there ... I just looked
oh your closet lol
well can you send me one of those ... they sound cute
2007-10-19 19:38:46 · answer #10 · answered by ☮ Pangel ☮ 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋