How did you arrive at your beliefs?

[AmbiguousGuy]

I think you misunderstand me. I guess I didn't express myself clearly. I agree with much of what you said, merely pointing out that bad behavior (at least in humans---not so applicable to animals, as they act more on instinct) always follows wrong thinking, or wrong belief.

Maybe I'm saying that I find the 'belief' part to be unnecessary. If you look closely at what a belief is, I think you may admit that it can only exist in the form of human words. I can't hold the belief that 'money brings happiness' unless I can form those words and assent to them. But I can lust after money even without holding a belief like that. I can lust after it in the same way as a dog lusts after meat -- without any formal, stated belief.

I know people who claim to have no beliefs. I'm not sure exactly what they mean by that, but I'm guessing they withhold 100% assent from every set of words. If confronted with 'money brings happiness,' they'll refuse to either agree or disagree with it. They're refusing to embrace any belief.

I didn't mean to be contentious over semantics---I merely wanted to point out the connection between behavior and belief.

Hey, being contentious over semantics is the very soul of a place like this. You're following (my) God's will faithfully when you do that. Bless you.