Does it matter in what you believe?

[Misty]

I am of the opinion because none of us know the elusive 'truth', however much we might think we do, it matters not what we actually believe, with of course the caveat that our belief system isn't a means of abusing others, mentally or physically.

 

[ThereIsNoSpoon]

of course it matters what we believe because thet belief is interwined with our behaviour and our life.

 

[blackout]

What you choose to believe
largely becomes your life.

In that respect it does matter to the individual.

Though I will say that what you ACTUALIZE
matters more.

 

[YmirGF]

Your beliefs govern how you perceive reality and so what you believe is very important.

 

[Nerthus]

I think if I believe in a different God or a different faith, then I would be a very different person.

So, what I believe is important to me - it's make me who I am.

 

[K.Venugopal]

I am of the opinion because none of us know the elusive 'truth', however much we might think we do, it matters not what we actually believe, with of course the caveat that our belief system isn't a means of abusing others, mentally or physically.

It matters not what we believe in so long as our beliefs can lead us to the “elusive truth” (God and all that). But if what we believe in takes us away from the truth we hang separately!

 

[Tarheeler]

I am of the opinion because none of us know the elusive 'truth', however much we might think we do, it matters not what we actually believe, with of course the caveat that our belief system isn't a means of abusing others, mentally or physically.

Matters to who?

It definitely matters to me, because it's my life.

It probably matters to those around me, because (as the others have stated) my beliefs shape my perspective and how I interact with others.

 

[Misty]

I didn't explain myself very well and for that I apologise, I shouldn't post when I am doing other things at the same time!

What I meant was, in the scheme of things what we believe isn't particularly relevant, although no doubt it is to the person concerned, and those around them. None of us has any idea of the 'truth', I doubt any belief system comes close to that elusive commodity.

 

[Willamena]

Every one of us has an idea of the truth, though. If those truths must necessarily conform to an ideal that is elusive, then the ideal isn't of much use (i.e. not a commodity).

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

We are born who we are, and we become what society makes us.
What we believe comes from the norms of that family and society.
It is rare for a person to "invent" their own beliefs.

It would be reasonable for "a god" to understand this , and that he would not expect a person from a Muslim family and society, to become a Christian with out any outside influence. This is normal for any religion faith.

It is unlikely that God would Judge some one in this circumstance purely on belief.

Whilst a religious belief will certainly establish a set of values and morality in a person. It is how the person responds to them that is important to judgement, not the details of the religious belief behind it.

In this I strongly differ from the Calvinistic reliance on belief, faith and salvation, as opposed to actions and empathy .

I suspect there is such a thing as a universal standard of morality.

 

[zenzero]

Friend Misty,

Does it matter in what you believe?

What I meant was, in the scheme of things what we believe isn't particularly relevant, although no doubt it is to the person concerned, and those around them. None of us has any idea of the 'truth', I doubt any belief system comes close to that elusive commodity.

Kindly understand that all * beliefs* are "MIND" related and religion is all about 'TRANSCENDING' that very mind.
So, what one believes are only an illusion as it is only a perception of an individual and not reality.
Yes, throwing out all beliefs; makes sense and so personally have no belief system!

Love & rgds

 

[Muffled]

I didn't explain myself very well and for that I apologise, I shouldn't post when I am doing other things at the same time!

What I meant was, in the scheme of things what we believe isn't particularly relevant, although no doubt it is to the person concerned, and those around them. None of us has any idea of the 'truth', I doubt any belief system comes close to that elusive commodity.

Christians have the Truth. His name is Jesus.

I suppose by this you mean doctrine. Doctrines do tend to be flawed. However it seems logical that a Christian belief system could lead a person to Jesus as the Truth.

This is only true if there isn't a Truth. This is the doorway to sin: believe there isn't a God who has a holistic approach to the universe He created, so that a person can do whatever he wishes without destroying the order that was ordained by God. If it is chaos that is desired Hell has plenty of that.

 

[Misty]

Christians have the Truth. His name is Jesus.

I suppose by this you mean doctrine. Doctrines do tend to be flawed. However it seems logical that a Christian belief system could lead a person to Jesus as the Truth.

This is only true if there isn't a Truth. This is the doorway to sin: believe there isn't a God who has a holistic approach to the universe He created, so that a person can do whatever he wishes without destroying the order that was ordained by God. If it is chaos that is desired Hell has plenty of that.

In you opinion NOT mine, which is prefectly as valid as yours!

 

[Guitar's Cry]

Belief is a tool that helps us in this complex existence.

 

[Guitar's Cry]

This is only true if there isn't a Truth. This is the doorway to sin: believe there isn't a God who has a holistic approach to the universe He created, so that a person can do whatever he wishes without destroying the order that was ordained by God. If it is chaos that is desired Hell has plenty of that.

Chaos reminds us that we're free.

The left hand allows us to disentangle ourselves from the complexity and stagnation of order. Like Set, we may dismember the God-king and reorder him into new life so that we may view the world anew.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I didn't explain myself very well and for that I apologise, I shouldn't post when I am doing other things at the same time!

What I meant was, in the scheme of things what we believe isn't particularly relevant, although no doubt it is to the person concerned, and those around them. None of us has any idea of the 'truth', I doubt any belief system comes close to that elusive commodity.

I don't agree with this. Our knowledge may be contingent, but this doesn't mean that some knowledge claims aren't better than others.

As an analogy, there's a limit to the accuracy with which I can measure the position of an object; I can never be perfect with absolute certainty. However, this doesn't mean that when the question is the location of my car, that the answers "in my driveway" and "suspended in midair 15,000 feet above Midway Island" have equal validity... even if the "in my driveway" answer is subject to some uncertainty, and even if there is a non-zero chance that while I wasn't looking, thieves took my car, drove it onto a cargo plane, and are now flying over the Pacific Ocean with it.

In terms of real life, what you believe matters a great deal, because what you believe informs your actions, and actions have consequences. If you believe, say, that homeopathy actually works, you might decide to use some homeopathic "remedy" instead of seeking real medical care when you're sick.

Basically, even if the things we believe aren't knowledge with 100% certainty, this doesn't mean that any idea that anyone believes has equal certainty or validity.

 

[Zadok]

I didn't explain myself very well and for that I apologise, I shouldn't post when I am doing other things at the same time!

What I meant was, in the scheme of things what we believe isn't particularly relevant, although no doubt it is to the person concerned, and those around them. None of us has any idea of the 'truth', I doubt any belief system comes close to that elusive commodity.

I think you are asking – what is more important? What is real or our perception of what is real?

There is a paradox here. Many agnostics and atheist argue that – What does it matter what is real if it cannot be perceived? (for example G-d) Thus the argument is: without hard proof (scientific perception) what is real does not matter – only our perception (proof) of what is real matters or is valid.

The second part of the paradox is that if someone does not believe in or perceive any means of connecting to what is real – why consider any logic, proof or perception? - Which is the logic I think you are getting to.

Personally I adhere, a great deal, to rhetorical logic. The reason is because it has proven (demonstrated) over my life time to produce the best and most consistent results.

So I contend that what is real matters and what our perception of reality also matters. I purport that unless we are willing to always be vigilant to test perceptions we have not considered previously and test them as best we can to what we understand to be real (including sanity checks – best done with others of different perspective) we are wasting our existence and as you have concluded – our quest for reality is in vain.

Zadok

 

[it's_sam]

Personaly I use my beliefs and knowledge and understanding and everything i have when i am focused on something. I see no distinction between people other then what they have created in themselves like attitude "bad" and personality "good". As zadok mentioned I have concluded this for myself and whereas i see it and believe in it i know it is something you can only deduce for yourself. Wisdom and knowledge will guide this journey toward the better but we all know there is alot of crap to sift through and even if you got rid of all the "bad" things in the world that would still leave "bad" people. People will do things that others dont like and that just happens, if it comes back on them that is their chance to learn. When they are at this bridge others can help them along the way with their words but it is up to the person to take the steps once they know what to do. Someone unwilling to listen to reason, unwilling to take responsiblity for their acts, and unwilling to have enough respect to finish out a conversation is obviouse to me. But even in this i will still try to break down the walls and get them to conclude on something else even if it wasnt my "goal" conclusion. I say the later because often times i will change my mind once they have patiently explained their side in truth. I keep in mind the worste that can happen, but give everyone the benefit of a doubt using my "process".