Does God really give us a "choice" about whether or not to believe in him?
538318
The analogy is invalid because the real choice is "believe a bunch of rediculous stuff or rediculous consequences will happen that you also don't believe"\n\nThere is no choice at all, because belief is not a matter of choice.  It's a matter of finding evidence compelling.  I can not choose to disbelieve in gravity any more than I can choose to believe in leprechauns.  I am not direct control of my beliefs.
951074
that is a very good point,, i have always  thought, if i "feel/think/see"   things a certain way,,, that i was made to be this way,,,, and how can i be faulted for being made the way i am,,,, by a creator, so yes, if God works within us, to determine our will,,, then is it really free will? how would we even know?  maybe God works with us,, in helping develop our will,,,,, in that if we desire something,, we find the things we need, the resources,  but where did that desire come from in the first place,  even if its something we feel we thought up,, most likely we were influenced  by our life/our contacts in life,,, what caused us to come across those certain expeirences?  and why did we react in the way we did??
921787
Depends.  A lot of people are raised to be of a certain faith.  These people often don't question what they are taught.  In that way, it isn't a real choice because they just believe what their parents/church told them to believe.  However, it becomes a choice if the individual thinks about what they believe - accept or reject certain aspects of different religions and make a decision to follow or not.
2709
I think we must discern between believing in existance of someone and having faith in that person / being. If you don't believe in God (the fact that He exists), you consequently don't have to believe that Satan exists too, but if you accept God's words as true, then you will know Satan exists, because God said that he exists. What God tells us is not to trust Satan, even not to communicate with him under any circumstances. Those who are certain that Satan exists will either avoid him(as the result of knowing he is 'person' not to be trusted) or follow him because they reject God. In the end, I think that Satan is very pleased when people consider he doesn't exist, cause in that way he can fool them undercover.
626989
Remember that an Atheist is giving up the pleasant fantasy of an eternity floating on cloud nine with harps and/or houris for the stark reality of wormbait. Additionally, they're giving up the chance to run for public office, among other things, and to marry countless millions of people in the world. That's not the most obvious of 'choices' for people to make - in the same sense that we choose between Coke and Pepsi.\n\nAs even the theists have been saying, we aren't born believing in God. Somebody tells us about it and, like everything else, we either believe it or we don't. For me, personally, just like the theist I can read a million pages of support for either side, but in my heart I know who I am and I'm incapable of lying to myself - however glittering the prize for 'belief' is.
426334
no, believing or not believing in something like god is neither bad nor good. It's what you do with the belief or disbelief that will determine whether it's a bad thing.
843701
I would say yes\nBut God wants Free-Will of choice........so in turn you make up your own mind.
66426
god is omnicient. he needs not to change his mind
433543
I believe God wants us to know specifically who he is and how to get to him.  Therefore, he provides us Scriptures. I just can't believe we can make up a god of our own imagining and have it be the right one. Only one can be right, otherwise he would be contradicting himself.
494401
God knows what is best.  He will answer your prayers as he sees fit.  It may be difficult for you to understand why he made the decision he did.  But he has a reason for all things. in my life he made choices for me that i didn't agree with but looking back now i understand.
1173293
Since there is no proof either way (pro or con) an athiest has chosen one of 2 logical positions.  He just has chosen one that differs from the "believers".  His decision has no more or less merit than those who choose god.
919158
Yes, God has the power to predestine or not predestine our lives as He so chooses.  I agree with you in that I believe we have free choice.  I don't understand so easily how you come to know the mind of God.  Everyone is selected for His service, and everyone is blessed.  We need not seek Him, since He is already knocking on the door of our hearts.  All we must do is let Him in.  Yes, because of our freedom of choice, if we choose to follow God, we will be with Him forever in heaven.
777628
I would and do believe in God.  \n\nIf in the end I was wrong, who cares?  \n\nIf someone does not believe and then finds God is real, whoops!
299489
Of course when you ask a question like this you are going to get mixed answers from believers and non-believers.  Believing in God is a conscious choice. You either decide He is, and conform your life to that belief, or you chose not to believe and act accordingly.  DO NOT let anyone else make that decision for you!!!  Believing in Almighty God is a step of faith; God is beyond our comprehension.  We cannot even begin to understand His thinking or His "ways" because we have nothing to compare Him with.  That is why it takes faith.  \n\nI suggest you pray and ask God, with all your heart, to reveal "truth" to you; pick up your Bible and read.  This is how you "Seek" truth.  If you seek Him; you will find Him!\n\nBe careful you do not let the devil into your mind!  By asking a question like this you are inviting input from the spirit of the anti-christ.  You are spiritually vulnerable right now.  The Bible tells us to "guard your hearts and minds".  Input from non-believers is going to add to your confusion!  Surround yourself with believers and when you come into unity with them; you will see the manifest power of God.  First comes the believing (faith), then comes the seeing!  You won't see God until you believe He's there!  We take the first step then He keeps feeding our faith to grow it stronger by showing Himself in many ways.  \n\nIf you don't look for Him you won't find Him.  But that doesn't mean He's not there!!!  Just like those who chose not to believe in God, doesn't mean He's not real.  They just chose not to believe in Him!  \n\nI am believing for you.  You will find out that God is real and you will become a powerful witness to His Glory!!!
392180
A combination of both.\n\n1. We are free to choose, at any given instance and depending on our degree of conscious awareness of our actions and overall motivations, any action possible.\n\n2. There are only a given number of possibilities. I am not able to pick up a cup - with my hand - that is 2000 miles away from me.  This is similar to the way that predestination works - God knows what I will do because he knows my heart, my potential, and my capabilities at any given instant.\n\n~ There is no discrepancy between the two if you realize that God operates outside our conventional viewpoint regarding time.  All things that have occured since the beginning of TIME until the end of TIME (the discussion of what this entails is quite complicated and another matter entirely) are within the scope of God's apprehension and understanding.
1143090
There are  many wonderful reasons to believe in GOD,but many are blind and stubborn to realizes that their is a true GOD that loves us.we must not judge them like  ROMANS 14;10,says"But why do you judge your brother?for we  shall all stand before the judgment seat of GOD." for it is written"As I live,'says JEHOVAH, to me every knee will bend down,and every tongue will make open acknowledgment to GOD."so lets not judge each other any longer but rather make this your decision.
958449
I think that's a really good question. If I accept the premise that God cannot ask us to do anything that is not moral, then that implies there is a morality independent of Him. On the other hand, if I accept the position that I must do whatever God wants me to do, then I have no way to ascertain whether God is asking me to do right or wrong - I must simply do what He says.