Originally Answered: Can you choose to believe something? Absolutely, but its not quite as direct as flipping a switch, and actually your note is incorrect as far as humans go. Pretending you believe in something CAN lead you to ultimately believe it.
A belief is simply your interpretation of reality and your interpretation is not something you choose.
Is belief a choice psychology?
Beliefs are a choice. We have the power to choose our beliefs. Our beliefs become our reality. Beliefs are not just cold mental premises, but are 'hot stuff' intertwined with emotions (conscious or unconscious).
What is belief in psychology?
n. 1. acceptance of the truth, reality, or validity of something (e.g., a phenomenon, a person's veracity), particularly in the absence of substantiation. 2. an association of some characteristic or attribute, usually evaluative in nature, with an attitude object (e.g., this car is reliable).
Is it possible to choose to believe in God?
You can't just believe in God by an effort of will, but yes you can believe in God with a little help. In order to believe something, you have to know about it. That something might be an object or an idea, but if you don't know what it is, your chances of believing in it will be marginal at best.
Which religionis the most powerful?
Religion Followers (billions) Founded
------------ -------------------- ---------------------------------
Christianity 2.4 Middle East
Islam 1.9 Arabia (Middle East), 7th century
Hinduism 1.2 Indian subcontinent
Buddhism 0.5 Indian subcontinent
Why do people choose to believe in things?
We believe some things because of the evidence of our senses: that it is daytime, that the floor is solid, that there are other people in the room. When we truly believe something it profoundly influences our actions. These actions can then exert a powerful influence on the beliefs of others.
When can you choose your religion?
There is no bright-line rule that explains when a child is old enough, and overall, it's a very subjective decision. Of course, children who are at least 18-years-old or are legally emancipated from their parents are free to decide their own religious beliefs without court intervention.
Which religion came first in the world?
Hinduism is the world's oldest religion, according to many scholars, with roots and customs dating back more than 4,000 years. Today, with about 900 million followers, Hinduism is the third-largest religion behind Christianity and Islam.Oct 6, 2017
What is belief in belief?
Belief in belief is a situation where a model of the world you claim and believe to have is at odds with a model of the world that explains your actions and drives your anticipation of experience.
What is the belief theory?
These are the intellectualistic theory that belief is a cognitive act related to evidence that the thing believed is probably true, the dispositional theory that we recognize our own beliefs by observing how we react to things, the feeling theory that belief is a particular feeling that comes to us and is a signal to
What is the earliest religion in the world?
The word Hindu is an exonym, and while Hinduism has been called the oldest religion in the world, many practitioners refer to their religion as Sanātana Dharma (Sanskrit: सनातन धर्म, lit. ''the Eternal Dharma''), which refers to the idea that its origins lie beyond human history, as revealed in the Hindu texts.
Why do some people choose to believe in God?
The quick and easy answer to why people are religious is that God in whichever form you believe he/she/they take(s) is real and people believe because they communicate with it and perceive evidence of its involvement in the world.
Is Christianity the youngest religion?
Started by Mohammed the prophet in about 622BC, that means the religionis about 1,389 years old. It is the youngest of the five religions. When did Islam start and by whom? Christianity is 1,980 years old and was started by Jesus Christ.
What is it called when you believe something because you want to?
People are prone to believe what they want to believe. Confirmation bias occurs from the direct influence of desire on beliefs. When people would like a certain idea or concept to be true, they end up believing it to be true. They are motivated by wishful thinking.
Which is the youngest religion of India?
Religious group Population % 1951 Population % 2011
--------------- ----------------- -----------------
Christianity 2.30% 2.30%
Sikhism 1.79% 1.72%
Buddhism 0.74% 0.70%
Jainism 0.46% 0.37%
What is William James main thesis in The Will to Believe?
James' thesis is "When our intellect cannot solve a genuine option, emotionally we must decide." Belief in a state of affairs can help that state of affairs come true. If one believes that one can do well, one probably will do better than if one believes one won't do well.
Can we choose our beliefs?
We have the power to choose our beliefs. Our beliefs become our reality. Beliefs are not just cold mental premises, but are 'hot stuff' intertwined with emotions (conscious or unconscious). When we change our thinking, we change our beliefs.
Can you force yourself to believe something?
Never force yourself to believe in anything, just make the best effort you can to understand things from the widest perspective possible. Changing beliefs starts with challenging your own assumptions.