"What Is Belief?"

[Shivvenfist]

I was reading that Tom Cruise/Scientology thread, and it got me to thinking deeply about just what is it, this thing we call "belief"? How does it take root in us as people, and what are the catalysts for this phenomenon.

My thoughts, flowed through to conclusion, lead me to postulate a few things, none of them answers, and in fact maddeningly annoying questions. Hmmm. I'll try anyhow...

When I think about, for example, my belief that people are inherently good, I now ponder how I grabbed that from my mental ass. I mean, is it because I wish that reality to be reality for myself? Does it sit well in my craw and keep me in a comfort zone to accept something that strikes me as a good thing? Am I influenced by that which has been programmed into my noggin from others who want their acceptable realities to be my own so that they can claim satisfaction and a completion of their life cycle?

Does that mean that, coupled with fanatics, impassioned wacko's, and/or dogmatic mental cases, I am someone else's goal fulfilled?

My head hurts now. Anyone else?

[Mr Karl]

belief is choosing to accept an unproven as fact

[Pull~My~Hair]

belief is choosing to accept an unproven as fact

i believe that would be my definition of religion

[Shivvenfist]

Well while we are being simplistic to the point of suicide...LOL...

No I mean, what is it that influences belief, my mistake.

[Mr Karl]

Need

[Shivvenfist]

Lmao.

[Mr Karl]

Lmao.

I shall ponder that

[Pull~My~Hair]

lol I know we were trying to get around this simplistic thing but..I think exposure to belief causes belief, in a way. I really have no beliefs on anything, nor did my parents, which could be a good thing or a bad thing....I think this is why religions live for soo long, because they are passed down and when you grow up with something existing in your daily life as a truth or a common, you dont really think about it. And it is there permanetly. Same thing with charities and anything else, most kids that grow up with parents contributing to charities or fundraisers, think its something everyone does and usually continue with the same thing when they are older.
Anyhow, ive rambled...you are your surroundings

[Shivvenfist]

You're one of those posters. I like that

[Pull~My~Hair]

You're one of those posters. I like that

those posters? uhoh...

[Shivvenfist]

those posters? uhoh...

A good thing, I assure you.

You thought about the post beyond "yes" "no" "snowcones" "cabbage".

Thanks for sharing some thought on it

[Pull~My~Hair]

A good thing, I assure you.

You thought about the post beyond "yes" "no" "snowcones" "cabbage".

Thanks for sharing some thought on it

lol ...oh and ..cabbage

[Shivvenfist]

I think that belief is a sentient being on its own. Like, a psychic entity that we split off from the reptile brain to somehow balance our ability to not overcook the easy mac.

I dunno, I might be reaching.

Seriously though, you have to admit that some belief systems, be they social, spiritual, mathematical or otherwise, are beyond the sane gene.

An example for the math heads out there, there is a man, who actually exists, somewhere in Alabam, who has dedicated his life (he's a tenured professor) to proving that 2+2 does NOT = 4. Um.

And I thought twinkies were planning a coup. Some people need to be shot.

[Pull~My~Hair]

yeah..well some people are just loony...And I think some people just get so tired of the mundane that they just crack and build this belief of something totally illogical, simply so they have something to do the rest of their lives...and after you tell yourself a lie for so long you start to believe it....self induced insanity if you will

[Shivvenfist]

And it comes in 3 flavors:

CNN, FOX NEWS, and TIME MAGAZINE.

LOL

[Morning Glory]

people are inherrantly empty brainless idiots. plato theorized that people allready know everything, and they only realize it one peice at a time. while there is some possibilty to this idea, I think this gives people far too much credit. some people voted for Bush twice. this shows that people are either intentionally ignorant or else they cannot comprehend some ideas no matter how many times they are presented to them. I think people start out knowing nothing and get filled with ideas one peice at a time, if at all. In other words nothing about you is unique or original and if you were left to your own without any outside stimulus, all you would know were basic motor functions and maybe the ability to use your surroundings to survive.
now this ability to create abstract concepts that only exist in the mind and not in phsyical reality is something that we regard as making us the greatest and smartest species on the planet. I think that animals posses this abilty as well, as it's apprently obviosu that they can learn things that they hadn't previously known. the difference between us and animals is that they just don't care. they know that these ideas don't really matter cuz just liek us, as much time as they spend thinking, all they really get done is eat, shit and die and if they are lucky, they might breed and a small part of them will last for a little while longer.

[Pull~My~Hair]

people are inherrantly empty brainless idiots. plato theorized that people allready know everything, and they only realize it one peice at a time. while there is some possibilty to this idea, I think this gives people far too much credit. some people voted for Bush twice..

I laughed so hard

[Shivvenfist]

Some are still voting that same choice...*cry in the dark*

[TheDeathKnight]

It all depends if you are open to the idea of logic, or if you just accept what is spoon fed to you by society, parents, peers, etc...

Few people really analyze the world around them.

[Shivvenfist]

I agree with you Arthas

[Mr Karl]

Few people really analyze the world around them.

and for all those who dont there's belief, how else would they be able to properly focus on something

I've spent the day thinking about this and I do think that the only reason for belief is basicaly need ,just that , I suppose I could ramble on but I dont have musch use for belief, either it is or it isn't yet

just a thought maybe belief is just food for want of needing

I'll just shut up now

[Shivvenfist]

and for all those who dont there's belief, how else would they be able to properly focus on something

I've spent the day thinking about this and I do think that the only reason for belief is basicaly need ,just that , I suppose I could ramble on but I dont have musch use for belief, either it is or it isn't yet

just a thought maybe belief is just food for want of needing

I'll just shut up now

Well no, hang on a sec, now that you fleshed out your earlier response, you put yout thoughtstream into better perspective for me. I wholly agree with that assessment you made, from those terms.

Food for want of needing...How poetic.

It makes sense!