Choosing to believe

Joining the conversation late, as usual, apologies Let's start at the beginning of your argument. You said that you find phrases like "choose to believe" puzzling because to you, belief is always based on coming in contact with satisfactory evidence.Here is how merriam-webster defines "belief:" So here we see that belief in response to evidence is only one of the many definitions given for belief. That may actually answer your question right there: Theists use the phrase "choose to believe" because, by definition, that is what belief is. You are choosing to put trust in something. This may or may not be upon examining evidence.It is curious, however, the merriam webster's first three definitions include the word "feeling," suggesting that belief is rooted in personal conviction rather than a decision made using critical thinking. In my experience, it has included both Regards!- RaphEdited by Raphael, : No reason given.

In essence, yes and no. You may decide that fire is hot based on tangible experience (touching the flame, feeling it's heat) or you may believe that it is hot from observing its effects. In the second case, you have not personally touched the flame or felt its heat, but you have observed its effects, and so believe the fact that "it is hot" to be true.Regards!- Raph