Belief: What is it?

[SalixIncendium]

The context of this forum? This forum covers many things including science and politics as well as religion. That's another reason one should not be vague, especially in an OP.

My vagueness was intentional. It's clear to me by other discourse in this forum that people use the word 'belief.' quite differently.

Please give an example of "experiential evidence" as relates to religious views. As far as I know, there has been no evidence presented to support religious views.

An example of experiential evidence is provided in posts 7 and 8 of this thread. Such an experience, as it relates to religious views, may be a mystical experience, such as an experience of oneness or enlightenment, or what one experiences in the state of samadhi.

Is that your opinion or a question?

It was a question, hence the question mark at the end in lieu of a period and absence of a qualifier expressing opinion.

What I already said was:

Atheism requires belief in rationalism and disbelief in woo.​

Do you see the difference between what I wrote and your not-so-clever rewording?

Not really. Both essentially say the same thing; Atheism requires belief in rationalism.

But that was a nice attempt at diverting attention from the actual question to avoid answering it.

 

[QuestioningMind]

What does belief mean to you?

Is it a requirement of religion? Why or why not?

Is it a requirement of atheism? Why or why not?

Does Salix have the best fashion sense on RF? Why or why not?

Atheism is simply the lack of belief in any god or gods. Absolutely no belief is required.

 

[Fool]

What does belief mean to you?

Is it a requirement of religion? Why or why not?

Is it a requirement of atheism? Why or why not?

Does Salix have the best fashion sense on RF? Why or why not?

Belief is a thought, that is not necessarily true/false until tested in reality. It is unknown as belief. Until known its only imagined.


You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams. - Dr. Seuss

Belief is agnostic. Darkness is full of potential.

Luke 11:52

 

[osgart]

Belief is a place where you don't know but it sure seems true.

I suppose it's a step in religion:

1)believe
2) try the spirits, prove God
3) know
4) have faith in your knowledge

 

[74x12]

What does belief mean to you?

Is it a requirement of religion? Why or why not?

Is it a requirement of atheism? Why or why not?

Does Salix have the best fashion sense on RF? Why or why not?

Belief is surety of mind. Stay your mind on something that is true; so you're not wavering and unstable in all your ways.

 

[Ayjaydee]

What does belief mean to you?

Is it a requirement of religion? Why or why not?

Is it a requirement of atheism? Why or why not?

Does Salix have the best fashion sense on RF? Why or why not?

Belief isn't required for lack of belief

 

[amorphous_constellation]

What does belief mean to you?

Is it a requirement of religion? Why or why not?

It means believing in the human project. What probably makes it 'religious' or 'spiritual' is that I think there's actually a goal we are working toward here. This differs from atheism, where they generally think there is no goal. It also differs from a lot of contemporary theism, where they believe that we're all just spurning some illusion on some level, here in the physical realm. They aspire to different forms of transcendence, saying that we should fixate on heaven, or seeing the nothingness in corporeality. In helping us think through our distractions in reality, perhaps those traditions give us important spiritual tools, but this realm were in is, I think, still the plane with which we are meant to contend and improve. But these questions are also more complicated than that, or I haven't gained enough wisdom to deal with them in the smoothest way

 

[Ayjaydee]

It means believing in the human project. What probably makes 'religious' or 'spiritual' is that I think there's actually a goal we are working toward here. This differs from atheism, where they generally think there is no goal. It also differs from a lot of contemporary theism, where they believe that we're all just spurning some illusion on some level, here in the physical realm. They aspire to different forms of transcendence, saying that we should fixate on heaven, or seeing the nothingness in corporeality. In helping us think through our distractions in reality, perhaps those traditions give us important spiritual tools, but this realm were in is, I think, still the plane with which we are meant to contend and improve. But these questions are also more complicated than that, or I haven't gained enough wisdom to deal with them in the smoothest way

Athiests have no goals?? I know plenty who do

 

[amorphous_constellation]

Athiests have no goals?? I know plenty who do

They don't typically see teleology in things do they. They have science, which enables them to take things apart and explain how they work, but aren't they pretty reluctant to give things a purpose? They can think as they wish, if it's how they wish to think

 

[Trailblazer]

What does belief mean to you?

Is it a requirement of religion? Why or why not?

I think belief is a requirement of religion because God cannot ever be proven as a fact.

Is it a requirement of atheism? Why or why not?

I do not think it is a requirement of atheism because they do not need to believe in anything

Does Salix have the best fashion sense on RF? Why or why not?

I don't know, I never saw you in a suit at one of your restaurants.

 

[Ayjaydee]

They don't typically see teleology in things do they. They have science, which enables them to take things apart and explain how they work, but aren't they pretty reluctant to give things a purpose? They can think as they wish, if it's how they wish to think

Reluctant give things a purpose? Not that I've noticed

 

[amorphous_constellation]

Reluctant give things a purpose? Not that I've noticed

However it is that they see things, they should keep seeing them that way if it is wholesome to them

 

[Ayjaydee]

However it is that they see things, they should keep seeing them that way if it is wholesome to them

How generous of you

 

[Dan From Smithville]

What does belief mean to you?

Is it a requirement of religion? Why or why not?

I know of a few people that belong to churches, but are not believers. At least that is what they told me. If you are a serious practitioner of a religion, having faith and belief in some aspect of it would seem critical. I could not imagine maintaining my Christianity without believing in God or Christ, but I am not fanatical about it. It is personal view that I do not push on others.

Is it a requirement of atheism? Why or why not?

Not that I am aware. Most of the atheist I have met seem to rely on a logical approach. There being no evidence, they see no reason to believe. But leave themselves open to the possibility of changing their minds if evidence came to light.

Claiming to know there is no god of any kind would fall under a condition of belief. Some atheists take that position, but I have only met a few. Or so they told me.

Does Salix have the best fashion sense on RF? Why or why not?

I do not have enough evidence to come to a conclusion on that question. For all I know, you just might.

 

[stvdv]

What does belief mean to you?

To me, belief means I am not experiencing it now, so no proof; but I formed a mental picture of it.
Example: I never ate a whale, but I have firm belief it's too big a meal for me. No proof yet, though.
Example: I did not know how computers worked in 1980, but I had belief, that I could learn in 1 year.
When it comes to spirituality, I want my own proof. Proof of others, I don't count as "my proof".

 

[stvdv]

What does belief mean to you?

Is it a requirement of religion? Why or why not?
Is it a requirement of atheism? Why or why not?

IF you want to accomplish anything in life, you must believe in your self. So you need belief.

So, in that case it is a requirement of religion
So, in that case it is a requirement of atheism

 

[Ayjaydee]

IF you want to accomplish anything in life, you must believe in your self. So you need belief.

So, in that case it is a requirement of religion
So, in that case it is a requirement of atheism

False equivalence. And besides, different t usages of the word belief

 

[stvdv]

What does belief mean to you?

Is it a requirement of religion? Why or why not?
Is it a requirement of atheism? Why or why not?

Does Salix have the best fashion sense on RF? Why or why not?

I believe an "inclusive Religion" looks more friendly than an "exclusive Religion"

Nice you include "fashion" adorers into your "spiritual" topic

 

[stvdv]

False equivalence. And besides, different t usages of the word belief

Thank you for sharing your opinion.

 

[Ayjaydee]

Thank you for sharing your opinion.

And belief is not required to lack a belief. I either have a belief or I dont