Originally Posted by rstrats
Pilgrim,

re: "The reality is people believe or disbelieve something consciously."

Then I would ask you again to demonstrate such an ability to consciously engender a new belief by doing as requested in the OP.
And why should I "demonstrate" something which I have gone to great lengths to do just that by providing both myriad biblical passages and via logic. Others have likewise provided "demonstrations" of this incontrovertible truth. The alleged "help" you originally asked has been given but you obviously have no regard for any of it. This is what you originally wrote:

Originally Posted by rstrats
A number of folks on these boards are saying or at least implying that they can consciously choose to believe things. If you are one of them perhaps one of you can help me. I have never been able to consciously choose any of the beliefs that I have and I would like to be able to do that. If you think that you can consciously choose to believe things, I wonder if you might explain how you do it. What do you do at the last moment to instantly change your one state of belief to another? What is it that you do that would allow you to say, "OK, at this moment I do not believe that "x" exists or is true, but I choose to believe that "x" exists or is true and now instantly at this new moment I do believe that "x" exists or is true?
Restricting "belief" to just an individual's response to the Gospel, the commands and pleadings throughout both the OT and NT to repent and believe, which are addressed to one's conscious being, would be senseless. True saving faith (belief) is the fruit of regeneration and involves the mind (intellect), emotions (affections) and will, aka: fiducia. It is the same manifestation of loving God with all one's heart, mind, soul, and strength. If it were unconcious, then it would be impossible to detect and thus you would be forever seeking after that which already exists. Again..... pure nonsense. hairout

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simul iustus et peccator

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