Those who control our beliefs control our lives

[Nakosis]

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Our beliefs are powerful beyond imagination: They influence our perception of reality, which in turn influences the way we live.
How to Stop the Media from Controlling Your Mind

Who controls your beliefs?

 

[Lain]

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Our beliefs are powerful beyond imagination: They influence our perception of reality, which in turn influences the way we live.
How to Stop the Media from Controlling Your Mind

Who controls your beliefs?

A million and one persons. In no particular order: myself, all media I have ever even glimpsed, my mother, my family, random people of all sorts close to me, any news I see and read, all blogs I read, God, my Church, anyone I talk to about anything ever, my guardian angel, the demons, dead people who became influential organically or by a choice from certain people to promote them, the city planners/zoning folks, my genes, literally any and everyone involved with discovering knowledge about the world throughout all of history until now, even you yourself Nakosis.

I damn near want to say every person ever, every thing ever. All of these conspire to control and modify my reality, how I feel about things and respond to them, what thoughts are even possible for me to have, etc. They make up "the world" that I live in, think is real, etc. This all leads me to believe anything and everything that I believe about anything and everything. This will lead me to act as I do and lead the life I live.

 

[Secret Chief]

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Our beliefs are powerful beyond imagination: They influence our perception of reality, which in turn influences the way we live.
How to Stop the Media from Controlling Your Mind

Who controls your beliefs?

Not sure "control" is the right word? Unless I'm both controlled and deluded, which of course is possible. Likely even. Almost certain.

 

[sun rise]

No one controls my beliefs. Many try to influence them.

 

[Nakosis]

No one controls my beliefs. Many try to influence them.

Do you find yourself being cynical?

I suspect most who try to influence my belief do so from self-interest of some kind.
Perhaps not always true but more often than not.

 

[exchemist]

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Our beliefs are powerful beyond imagination: They influence our perception of reality, which in turn influences the way we live.
How to Stop the Media from Controlling Your Mind

Who controls your beliefs?

Nobody. Though I agree with others that many try to influence my beliefs, and often they succeed.

 

[exchemist]

Do you find yourself being cynical?

I suspect most who try to influence my belief do so from self-interest of some kind.
Perhaps not always true but more often than not.

Yes I think that really is cynical. I don't think it is true for an instant.

 

[Nakosis]

Not sure "control" is the right word? Unless I'm both controlled and deluded, which of course is possible. Likely even. Almost certain.

Some beliefs have been with me along time to where they become part of who I am.
Sometimes I can recall the source, often I can't.

I suppose this is more about current attempts at manipulating what I believe.
The older ones, I might be stuck with.

 

[Nakosis]

Yes I think that really is cynical. I don't think it is true for an instant.

So, for example, recently from the past, I've had the Church of Scientology reach out to me saying they are a new and improved church.
Ok, fine but I suspect the ulterior motive is to sell me Scientology books and services.
What do you think?

 

[metis]

Who controls your beliefs?

Nothing, as if one is brought up within science, we are taught to question anything and everything, regardless of its source.

 

[Nakosis]

Nothing, as if one is brought up within science, we are taught to question anything and everything, regardless of its source.

It's is good that you do but I see the attempts is social media all of the time.
And these have to work well enough to keep people at it.

One has to be aware of all the techniques in use.

 

[ecco]

Since this is in a religious debates forum, I suspect the correct answer would be: My pastor, my rabbi, my priest, my imam.

But I doubt you will see many people admit that.

 

[exchemist]

So, for example, recently from the past, I've had the Church of Scientology reach out to me saying they are a new and improved church.
Ok, fine but I suspect the ulterior motive is to sell me Scientology books and services.
What do you think?

And I've had scammers try to tell me I can get lower electricity bills by plugging some gizmo into the mains.

The existence of snake oil salesmen is not evidence that most people are selling snake oil. I should have thought that was obvious.

 

[Nakosis]

And I've had scammers try to tell me I can get lower electricity bills by plugging some gizmo into the mains.

The existence of snake oil salesmen is not evidence that most people are selling snake oil. I should have thought that was obvious.

Ok, well you are more trusting than I am.

 

[exchemist]

Ok, well you are more trusting than I am.

Well I'm not paranoid, at least.

But be serious. Not everyone is a Scientologist, right?

 

[It Aint Necessarily So]

Who controls your beliefs?

Nobody but me.

But that's because I've learned how to evaluate an idea, and learned that that must always be done.

Do ideas enter your head merely because you heard or read them from a trusted source, or because they meet certain criteria? The first is passive, the second active.

Think of the life in the sea. The smallest creatures, called plankton, float where the current takes them. Larger ones, like fish, octopi, and lobsters, called nekton, walk, swim or slither to where they want to be. They actively choose where to be.

We are born intellectual plankton, unable to evaluate propositions for coherence and truth value, but can develop the skills to do so and take control of the process if we make that effort.

 

[sun rise]

Do you find yourself being cynical?

I suspect most who try to influence my belief do so from self-interest of some kind.
Perhaps not always true but more often than not.

Yes, cynical but not universally so.

And, yes, self-interest is the motivation of most.

 

[Nakosis]

Yes, cynical but not universally so.

And, yes, self-interest is the motivation of most.

Most of the posters here on RF I'm not cynical of.
Mostly they seem authentic. Maybe a few exceptions.
Friends and most family members I can trust their motives.

Outside that it seems safer to be skeptical.

 

[TransmutingSoul]

Who controls your beliefs?

I see that I am in control of what I choose to believe.

I have chosen the Message of Baha'u'llah to direct my choices.

I see that Message, inclusive of laws, are the guide for how we will choose to live in the future.

So I see I am in control of my own destiny, to that extent, as there aspects of fate that are out of our control.

Regards Tony

 

[Audie]

Nobody but me.

But that's because I've learned how to evaluate an idea, and learned that that must always be done.

Do ideas enter your head merely because you heard or read them from a trusted source, or because they meet certain criteria? The first is passive, the second active.

Think of the life in the sea. The smallest creatures, called plankton, float where the current takes them. Larger ones, like fish, octopi, and lobsters, called nekton, walk, swim or slither to where they want to be. They actively choose where to be.

We are born intellectual plankton, unable to evaluate propositions for coherence and truth value, but can develop the skills to do so and take control of the process if we make that effort.

What are you now, oh ye who were plankton?

Me -
Im up Eurypterid level. Hoping to make it to
Labyrinthodont