Do we choose what we believe?

[TheLightWithin]

My input. The Bible teaches that faith and belief are a choice, but suggest that God initiated true belief. Belief is portrayed as conscious decision. Jesus says, If I tell you, you believe not. Luke 22:67. So belief is matter of individual choice.

However, Bible says true belief is a gift from God, Ephesians 1:13. Believers are sealed by God's Spirit. We either have faith or lack of faith.

Intriguing. On one hand presented as a choice, on the other hand presented as a gift.

 

[TheLightWithin]

For those who don't think it's a choice, I'll just redirect you to this thread whenever I don't believe your argument. It's not my fault nor my choice to believe what you are telling me... or so I'm told.

That's why it's always good to try to figure out someone's thought process and content if you are trying to persuade them of something. Figure out what might be in the way of them accepting your argument. Do they lack knowledge you have? Do they have knowledge you lack? Is there faulty reasoning involved (people generally don't consciously opt for faulty reasoning, for one reason or another they think their reasoning is good)

This is helpful but double edged - we may get at how someone's incorrect thoughts and beliefs are preventing them from accepting our argument. But there is a risk we could uncover an error on either our own part or on the part of the source we are getting our information from. Then we have to reassess.