malookiemaloo

To what extent is a person's belief stance (or lack of it) conditioned by their will?

A Christian will say that they believe the facts. A non-theist says the facts are not true.

Does a person's will operate in accordance with their perception of facts, knowledge, understanding, evidence etc or does the will operate independently?

Clarice O'C

Great topic, malookiemaloo. I need to think about your questions and so for now I'll throw out Webster's definition of "will" and if everyone agrees to it, we'll be starting out on the same page.

Will: the power of the mind to choose and control its own actions.

Best,
Clarice

mongrel

Two quick questions: If xians believe they have the facts, what do they need faith for?

What "facts" do non-theists say aren't true?

Maybe either, depending on the individual.

I think xians simply try to will themselves to believe something is factual, when that belief has no evidence to support it. To me, this suggests will operates independantly in xians, but can control their perception of facts, knowledge and so on.

Just my 2 bob's worth...

Clarice O'C

Hi,

Children raised in Christian families simply accept what their parents believe and teach such as the tooth fairy, Santa Claus, and God/Jesus. At some point the child develops the capacity to think for her/himself, reason, and ask questions. Why do children give up the tooth fairy and Santa yet some continue to believe in God/Jesus/Christianity?

Best,
Clarice

Godless Dave

Because their parents don't punish them for giving up belief in Santa or the Tooth Fairy.

Clarice O'C

Plus many children are *forced* to go to church receiving many, many years of brainwashing which makes Christianity highly difficult to break out of.

Best,
Clarice

malookiemaloo

belief v faith v facts.

The Bible does emphasise that faith is way ahead of 'knowledge', 'understanding' etc faith. However to put faith into practice a separate concious decision of the will is required. Or is it? That's what I am asking.

Certainly faith must be backed up with facts, otherwise it is meaningless.

What fascts do non-theists say aren't true? The lot as far as I can see on the SW! But is this stance adopted after a careful analysis of the facts or is it also an act of the will?

Surley if the will operates independently in Christians , it must operate independently in everyone?


m

malookiemaloo

Hello Clarice,

Not sure if I agree with you re brainwashing children. It's not as easy as you think.

I was a teenager in the 60's and, to a man (and woman) if our parents said it was black, we said it was white!

Maybe things are different now but I did keep the Santa thing going as long as possible in case the presents stopped.


m

Clarice O'C

Yes, maybe "brainwashing" is too strong a word. I'm not sure. It's just that children are not usually provided with choices when it comes to religion.

Best,
Clarice

malookiemaloo

It would be a very poor parent indeed who did not try to influence their child's upbringing for the best-even if their best was misguided.

I think parents should indeed try to influence their children but-and this is very important-allow them plenty of 'slack' and not be too upset if they don't turn out the way they want. There's nothing worse than parents who have their childrens' lives mapped out for them.


m