[quote=FlyerInHi]I suppose believing can be viewed as an insurance policy… Just in case.
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For that to work for a non-believer, wouldn’t pretending to believe have to count? I mean, one can’t just say, “I don’t really believe, but I want the option of heaven, so I’m going to choose to believe.” Well, they can say that, but they wouldn’t really believe. Or they can follow the rules of a particular religion, but they wouldn’t really believe.
On the inside, no matter what you say or what you do, you either you believe it or you don’t (or you’re not sure or you’re confused).
Obviously, wanting to believe something enough will make most people believe it. Otherwise, why would there be so many people with faith despite there being no real evidence? To me, faith is only denial. The universe is a cold, dark place that cares not for anybody or anything. Most people can’t handle that, and so they believe what they can’t persevere without believing. The human mind is wired not to accept things that would cause so much emotional trauma that being a productive member of society would cease to be possible. Some people say, “wired for faith.” I say, “wired for denial.” It’s the same with alcoholics, gay religious people, terminally ill people (upon initial diagnosis), and others. We deny what we can’t accept.
In any case, choosing to believe doesn’t really make sense. In fact, whenever I hear somebody say, “I choose to believe,” whether it’s regarding religion or something else, I really don’t understand what they’re talking about. Either you believe it on the inside or you don’t, and saying “I choose to believe” makes no sense to me.
