Belief...a choice?

True enough.
But how do you determine what evidence is appropriate? If I had an "experience" with a U.F.O. encounter, I may be persuaded that such an event was genuine. You may attempt to provide "appropriate" evidence of alternative explanations to my encounter, but I may or may not be open to rejecting my belief. Some scientic minds have an uncanny discipline that suspends all connections with feelings so as not to bias their conclusions. I, however, take my feelings into account. This is true only if God is only a product of human imagination. If God exists outside of human wisdom, Mr. Decker is not right.This message has been edited by Phatboy, 11-23-2004 04:56 PM

Which has always existed? Intelligence or matter? Did matter evolve into intelligence or was intelligence the Creator In the Beginning?

I totally understand the source that you believe in, and I totally understand why not too many people understand it. It is not that Christians are dumb nor are the science minded logicians who seek proof. I would add to your statement this fact:
The evidence for belief is an impartation that is not measureable apart from the value of it. It is He, and He is alive! We have crossed over from logic and science to faith, and belief. Belief is a choice all right, but the initial choice is that of God who imparts His experience/evidence in to the believer.This message has been edited by Phatboy, 12-01-2004 03:12 AM

What about the guy who finds out that she might be pregnant? "Oh God, I hope she isn't pregnant!"Dennis Miller IS funny, however. There is truth to it. We tend not to pray unless things are not going OUR way. Pesky human nature.

Hey, Lin. I said:The evidence for belief is an impartation that is not measureable apart from the value of it. You replied, My answer? The only way that I have been able to sense Him is the fact that He is now alive in me whereas He previously was not. The value is infinite! My perception of it is to accept Him, yet I COULD refuse Him in which case the value would be zero. Many are called yet few chosen. He chooses all, yet not all choose Him.

Regarding Belief as a choice...Is Belief formed out of experience? If so, I maintain that much of my personal belief arose out of experience(s) which I regarded as an impartation of the Spirit but which SOME people may label an overactive imagination!

I agree, and in particular, our acknowledgment of reality plays a large role in our individual beliefs. To a man who has encountered a U.F.O. or who thought that he did, reality would be defined in a differing context from what science alone teaches.

The original topic starter for this thread was: Upon what basis do rational minds make a choice?
Is Belief in the supernatural, for instance, in any way rational? For me, it is, because I have experienced it.

Do you mean literally or is this a parable?If I found my favorite food disgusting, I would think my tastebuds were off.If you mean spiritually, and that my favorite source...God as revealed in the Bible, was presented to me in a manner that made God ugly or distasteful, I would refuse the food based on how it was cooked. In other words, if you told me that the O.T. Yahweh was a manmade concept, I would simply disagree with you based on my Belief, but if you told me that Yahweh was God and yet was an evil God, I would be unable to digest what you said to me. We would either argue about it or I would simply choose a better cook.This message has been edited by Phatboy, 01-22-2005 04:40 AM