Topic: Is it possible to choose to have a religious belief / to make yourself believe?

[heisenbergman]

Doesn't belief only come either through logical persuasion (and that's only a weak belief) or a predisposition of the spirit? Maybe you can foster belief through repeated acts of devotion– going to church, facing Mecca and praying five times a day, observing Passover - but "to hear the voice of God in your soul" seems like the product of more than just a conscious decision. I'm not saying that you're either born with it or you aren't, but you won't get much by snapping your fingers and saying "I believe."

What's the take of folks here?

[SiCkBoY]

But that's the whole idea of believing.  It's a choice.

My old religion professor always says, "Where logic ends, faith begins."

[heisenbergman]

But believing requires a lot of thinking and reasoning. It's not like u can just go "okay, I believe from this day onwards," right?

[DVD_Freak]

But believing requires a lot of thinking and reasoning. It's not like u can just go "okay, I believe from this day onwards," right?

What's your personal take on it?

[bumblebee]

For me, it's not really "actively" choosing to believe, more of passively. A person born to a family with religion would fall into that. A person born into a family of non-believers most probably would need a life changing "miracle" before he believes.

[tony]

i believe in a GOD, but not the kind that needs to amass money and build structures not of GOD....

[RU9]

Doesn't belief only come either through logical persuasion (and that's only a weak belief) or a predisposition of the spirit?

 - but "to hear the voice of God in your soul" seems like the product of more than just a conscious decision. I'm not saying that you're either born with it or you aren't, but you won't get much by snapping your fingers and saying "I believe."

This is exactly the same question that I am searching for an answer. Maybe faith is a gift. I am leaning more on predisposition--"you're either born with it or you aren't". Forcing yourself to believe will not work.

 

[dpogs]

This is exactly the same question that I am searching for an answer. Maybe faith is a gift. I am leaning more on predisposition--"you're either born with it or you aren't". Forcing yourself to believe will not work.

that is why i love the phrase

"God will make a way" - man will never learns to look a way that will lead him/her to God unless God leads him/her.

[BLUED_2007]

Don't believe in any religion. Believe in God.

[tigkal]

And believe because without motivation of a reward. If you believe, believe not because you want to avoid hell, or want to go to heaven. believe because you believe. Other than that, it is selfishness.

[dpogs]

 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

James 2:19