Choices

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Jared Alesi's picture
Choices

There are two kinds of choices: active, and passive (they may be called by different names in different philosophy textbooks). An active choice is one that must be made, and cannot truly be avoided. A passive choice is one that is not necessarily consequential. It can be avoided.

The choice of what to have for lunch is passive. If presented the option of a sandwich or a salad, one could opt out and eat nothing, or eat something else entirely.

The choice of whether you want to go to a concert is active. Either you go, or you don't go. And if you don't decide in time, you're no longer undecided, as you've chosen not to go by default.

Worship of a God is an active choice. Either one does or doesn't. There is no real alternative. So the question should never be, "Do you believe in God?" It should be, "Do you worship God?" Because belief in itself is not the choice to be made. Either you're convinced or you're not. But there are multiple options for belief as well, and if it was a choice it would be passive. If asked if you believe in God or not, one could opt out and say they don't care one way or the other. But if this same person was asked if they worshipped God, they would say no.

So really only one question matters on the subject. "Do you practice the religion centered around [insert God's name here]?"

Discuss.

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Old man shouts at clouds's picture
I cant remember who said it
mykcob4's picture
@Jerad EXACTLY!
Tin-Man's picture
Well, as I have said before,
Sapporo's picture
Also, "Does your view of god
Tin-Man's picture
@Sapporo Re: "Does your view
ʝօɦռ 6IX ɮʀɛɛʐʏ's picture
I mean right, they are two
MCDennis's picture
Yes, you can act like you

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