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[Anonymous]

Yes, it is a choice. I have experienced that.

Loss of faith though, is not necessarily a choice.

[Anonymous]

Faith is a choice when we have doubt, but it’s not a choice to believe when we disbelieve something. Doubting but being unsure, yes, you can choose to have faith. Something is unknowable? Yes, you can choose to believe it. There are some things I simply can’t or don’t believe. There are others I can choose to believe despite uncertainty. Uncertainty allows room to choose faith. But disbelief doesn’t.

[Anonymous]

Can you choose to believe in Santa Clause again? Maybe, if you act like you believe and hang out with people who constantly affirm their faith in Santa and you work together as a group and use your excitement about Santa as the glue that holds your social group together such that being a part of the group, that brings you happiness, is contingent on your beliefs. Then your pre-cognitive desires will push you to accept and look forward to Santa coming each Christmas. But you will always know the truth in the back of your mind.

[Anonymous]

hawkgrrrl wrote:

Faith is a choice when we have doubt, but it’s not a choice to believe when we disbelieve something. Doubting but being unsure, yes, you can choose to have faith. Something is unknowable? Yes, you can choose to believe it. There are some things I simply can’t or don’t believe. There are others I can choose to believe despite uncertainty. Uncertainty allows room to choose faith. But disbelief doesn’t.

I like hawkgrrrl’s answer the best (did I put enough Rs in there?). It’s clear and succinct. You can’t simply choose to believe something that, deep down, you are actually sure is not true. That way lies madness. It’s only a choice when there’s room for you to be unsure. (However, I still believe that reserving judgment is perfectly valid too.)

[Author]

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