My own view is guided by Ephesians 2:8, quoted above. Belief and faith are the same for these purposes. One cannot simply choose to believe. God’s grace allows us to believe. One can pray to God for faith to truly believe, even though one may not believe even as the prayer(s) is being made. I believe that everyone, at some point, observes the world around him and at least begins to ask himself about the existence of God, although some may deny they have ever done this. I can’t answer as to why and how God extends His grace to some and perhaps not others— perhaps He grants His grace to all who seek it.
It is for this reason that I have a hard time with those who say they “convert” from one religion to another. Either they did not truly believe in the faith they say they had, and are abandoning in favor of the “new” faith, or they don’t believe in the faith they are “converting” to.
Your view requires a certain belief in the bible, correct?
Since someone cannot simply choose to believe, that God’s grace allows one to believe, why aren’t all faiths valid?
They are the same for any Christian purpose, because they are the same word in the Bible, pistis. I believe in the Internet, even when my e-mails do not get replied; I believe in God, even when my prayers do not [seem to be] answered. The type of faith is the same; only the object differs.
For nine years, I was a Dr. Ornish-very-low-fat-diet vegetarian. I believed it was best for my health. I was then presented with better evidence and logic, and I converted to become a Dr. Atkins-very-low-carbohydrate omnivore. I believed Dr. Ornish, because I was sufficiently convinced of the truth of his diet to live it out; I converted, because I wanted to believe the truth, and I found the truth to be closer to Atkins then Ornish. That is how conversion happens in anything requiring belief, and action based on belief.
P.S. OTOH, when I switched from being a United Methodist to an LCMS Lutheran, I didn't "convert" at all, because my beliefs did not change: it was the UMC denomination that had changed, I wanted to be where Christ was, and I found Him in the Lutheran church. If I ever find Him elsewhere, I'll follow Him there as well.
Belief and faith are not the same. One requires action. The other does not. A boatload of disciples believed that God could make it possible to walk on water. But only one had the faith to demonstrate it.