Do We Choose Our Beliefs?

[Hockeycowboy]

Are you saying that is a good thing or a bad thing?

IMO, they're taking the word of someone else, and not examining the evidence for themselves. I mean, most children trust their parents....and the laity, their clergy.

That may not be so good with spiritual issues. In my opinion.

 

[Trailblazer]

IMO, they're taking the word of someone else, and not examining the evidence for themselves. I mean, most children trust their parents....and the laity, their clergy.

That may not be so good with spiritual issues. In my opinion.

I fully agree. I think people need to look at the evidence and decide for ourselves but it is difficult for children to be objective later if they were raised in a religion.

 

[Windwalker]

Evidence doesn't always convince. There is evidence for little grey aliens, but it hasn't convinced me about alien visitors. Hence, I don't believe. But where evidence does convince, such as the evidence of a solid earth beneath my feet, then there is acceptance of something as true (the definition of belief).

But you believe the earth is solid because you want to believe that. The evidence is that it's all porous. There is nothing but space. It's only "solid" because of the interactions of gravity and electrostatic forces. We don't like believing that it's nothing but turtles all the way down.

 

[Willamena]

But you believe the earth is solid because you want to believe that. The evidence is that it's all porous. There is nothing but space. It's only "solid" because of the interactions of gravity and electrostatic forces. We don't like believing that it's nothing but turtles all the way down.

"Want," to me, seems like an extra and unnecessary step between truth and belief. Regardless of how the world is described, defined, and narrated (our analyses are just that), it still serves to be concrete.

I will grant, however, that it is a very shiny belief.

 

[Windwalker]

"Want," to me, seems like an extra and unnecessary step between truth and belief. Regardless of how the world is described, defined, and narrated (our analyses are just that), it still serves to be concrete.

I will grant, however, that it is a very shiny belief.

The operative word is it "serves". Truth is what holds the structure we use together for us in order for us to feel that we have our feet firmly planted on the earth.

 

[Willamena]

The operative word is it "serves". Truth is what holds the structure we use together for us in order for us to feel that we have our feet firmly planted on the earth.

It still feels like an added step.

 

[Windwalker]

It still feels like an added step.

 

[SalixIncendium]

What do you think? Do we choose our beliefs?

It appears to me that people believe either what is credible to them or what brings them the most psychological comfort in the absence of empirical evidence. I don't think there is any choice in the matter.

 

[JJ50]

It appears to me that people believe either what is credible to them or what brings them the most psychological comfort in the absence of empirical evidence. I don't think there is any choice in the matter.

I think you are right.

 

[Willamena]

It appears to me that people believe either what is credible to them or what brings them the most psychological comfort in the absence of empirical evidence. I don't think there is any choice in the matter.

Truth begets comfort.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Several times recently in conversations with theists, they have said things about choosing what we believe. It's almost as though in their minds beliefs are like clothes in the closet. I go to the closet, and I could pick the red t shirt or the green t shirt, so I'll pick the red. Or perhaps, I know my significant other likes the red more than the green, so I'll pick the red one to please him.

In my experience, this is not how belief works at all. If to believe means to be convinced something is true or real, then we don't choose our beliefs at all. We are presented with evidence and whatever interpretation of that evidence is most convincing to us is what we believe. We can't stop believing that until something intervenes - we see new evidence, or we realize our thought process was illogical before, etc. I can't simply wake up and choose a different belief this morning. I am genuinely convinced of what I believe (and don't).

What do you think? Do we choose our beliefs?

No. We don't. I like your example.

If someone can change their belief, I wonder if they believed in X to begin with. You can have a revelation that X isn't true but if you KNOW X is true, it is knowledge not belief.

I wonder why they call it belief if they are convinced that it is true

 

[Left Coast]

No. We don't. I like your example.

If someone can change their belief, I wonder if they believed in X to begin with. You can have a revelation that X isn't true but if you KNOW X is true, it is knowledge not belief.

I wonder why they call it belief if they are convinced that it is true

For purposes of this thread, I defined belief as being convinced something is true/real. Knowledge, I think, would be an extreme form of belief where your confidence is so high you are certain you are right.

 

[Unveiled Artist]

For purposes of this thread, I defined belief as being convinced something is true/real. Knowledge, I think, would be an extreme form of belief where your confidence is so high you are certain you are right.

More of a placebo affect?
(Didn't see the conversation date)

 

[Trailblazer]

For purposes of this thread, I defined belief as being convinced something is true/real. Knowledge, I think, would be an extreme form of belief where your confidence is so high you are certain you are right.

If one is convinced a belief is true, then one knows, and their confidence is so high they are certain they are right.
I am afraid I fit into that category. It is my own fault too, because I never stop searching for truth, so I just keep finding more. That is my personality type.

 

[Left Coast]

If one is convinced a belief is true, then one knows, and their confidence is so high they are certain they are right.
I am afraid I fit into that category. It is my own fault too, because I never stop searching for truth, so I just keep finding more. That is my personality type.

Sounds like you may be describing confirmation bias.

 

[Trailblazer]

Trailblazer said: If one is convinced a belief is true, then one knows, and their confidence is so high they are certain they are right.

Sounds like you may be describing confirmation bias.

Confirmation bias the tendency to interpret new evidence as confirmation of one's existing beliefs or theories.
I had no confirmation bias when I first researched the Baha'i Faith, since there were no pre-existing beliefs to confirm, since I was not raised in any religion.
I only became convinced that my belief was true after I researched it.

 

[Left Coast]

Confirmation bias the tendency to interpret new evidence as confirmation of one's existing beliefs or theories.
I had no confirmation bias when I first researched the Baha'i Faith, since there were no pre-existing beliefs to confirm, since I was not raised in any religion.
I only became convinced that my belief was true after I researched it.

I meant more now, since you said that you said you tend to be very confident in your beliefs to the point of total certainty, and you said you, "never stop searching for truth."

 

[Trailblazer]

I meant more now, since you said that you said you tend to be very confident in your beliefs to the point of total certainty, and you said you, "never stop searching for truth."

That is certitude but how could that be confirmation bias?
I could be biased because I am so certain, but that is not confirmation bias.

 

[Audie]

Confirmation bias the tendency to interpret new evidence as confirmation of one's existing beliefs or theories.
I had no confirmation bias when I first researched the Baha'i Faith, since there were no pre-existing beliefs to confirm, since I was not raised in any religion.
I only became convinced that my belief was true after I researched it.

Not raised in a religion, but some sort of
theist? As an atheist I don’t go looking for
a religion to research and adopt any more
than I study flying saucers hoping for abduction.

It may be that while not being biased for
that particular belief you were, for belief
in some religion.

Too, if it “clicked” it would be for pre existing
reasons, much as it is when one meets
a person with whom you “click”.

Your last line sounds like classic confirmation
bias. Maybe you don’t mean it the way it
came out?

 

[Left Coast]

That is certitude but how could that be confirmation bias?
I could be biased because I am so certain, but that is not confirmation bias.

I mean that now that your beliefs have been established, your ongoing "searches for truth" could be confirmation bias in action. If you are certain you're correct, then no evidence you ever uncover from now on could convince you you're wrong, could it?

 

[Trailblazer]

Not raised in a religion, but some sort of
theist? As an atheist I don’t go looking for a religion to research and adopt any more
than I study flying saucers hoping for abduction.

I was not raised with any religion or any belief in God.
I was not looking for a religion or for God, I just stumbled upon it by accident.
The rest is history.