Belief Is Not A Choice

[nailit]

Our beliefs (or non-beliefs even) are based upon our present understanding of available evidence at any given moment in time.

I don't believe in fairies because I am not presented with any evidence (at this moment in time) that would satisfy me that fairies exist. That could change if evidence became apparent, or even a possibility!
Likewise for Unicorns, Thor, the Bermuda Triangle or Dracula.

So the question is, how can I believe in something that I evidently *CAN'T* believe in?
I dont dismiss the Bible/God/Christianity etc because I WANT to. I dismiss it all because I CAN'T.
What is so hard to understand?

What would make an atheist a believer?
I dont know. But an Almighty, Supreme being would know. And he hasn't showed up yet to convince me....

[ToraToraTora]

come on him and the land are right on the steam!

[Peter Pedant]

it is called cognitive dissonance
here
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_dissonance

[Peter Pedant]

what?

oh Naillie - you have not distinguished between believe and believe in
believe in comes from the NT - er would you believe it?
pun intended

so for example you can believe that free tee is a blithering idiot ( see above )
but .... believing in free tee is completely different and indeed you may not ( believe in him)

[Nical]

Nailit, 'I don't dismiss the Bible...because I WANT to. I dismiss it all because I CAN'T. What is so hard to understand?' is odd - it isn't hard at all. Most people tolerate other people's beliefs and lack of beliefs. Many people don't believe in fairies and never give them a thought. Many people don't believe in God/gods and never give them a thought. I think you're angry, maybe with yourself, because you used to believe all that stuff - and now wonder how you could.

[sevenOP]

'Our beliefs' need not have anything to do with gods nor religions.

I *guess* the majority of posters on here pass each day not realising the world they encounter and accept and think they understand and know, is largely taken on trust, acceptance and conformity.
Individually, we 'know' very little of our surroundings and we proceed from practiced acceptance.

[jno]

so ... okay, don't believe. Why is this a problem?

[mibn2cweus]

//Belief Is Not A Choice//

Presented with the opportunity (actually more like cajoled) to believe in 'God' I chose not to on the basis of insufficient evidence. At the time I could very easily have said, "I do" and in fact I did simply to put those waiting on me to 'be saved' out of their misery. Hell, I even submitted to Baptism just to get the loonies off my back. I had already been accustomed to being a physically, mentally and emotionally abused child by then anyway.
I chose to know . . . even if I had lie about it.

[Mamyalynne]

As my Puerto Rican friend used to say "You canna beleaf or you no canna beleaf, itsa no problem".

[Theland]

Nailit - PP is right.
You suffer an internal conflict in my humble opinion.

[Theland]

SevenOP is a!so right. We drift through the day usually without much thought about the big questions.

[steg]

Dracula Was a real guy “Vlad III Dracula”, the Bermuda Triangle is there as well, maybe nothing ‘weird’ happens there, but it is there

[douglas9401]

But unlike some, it's very deep. :-P

[TheDevil]

It's all just feeling. When I think this I feel that etc. .etc..

Fear brings religion. Fear of the unknown.

[steg]

Oh aye, and unicorns
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-46358789

[Zacs-Master]

Well, steg, you have one on your coat of arms.

[steg]

Aye, Scotland does, my clan has the wolf

[Zacs-Master]

In sheep's saltire clothing it looks like.

[steg]

Perth coat of arms has a sheep in it
https://www.heraldry-wiki.com/heraldrywiki/index.php/Perth_(Scotland)

[Zacs-Master]

Leeds has 3 Owls!

My wife's grandma was from Perth.