What do you get from being a believer?

[Rational Agnostic]

Since we cannot know for sure what is true, the measure of our beliefs must be the practical value they bring to our lives. We can only speculate what is true; we can easily see what works.

So would you purposely believe (or pretend to believe) things that you think are most likely false?

 

[Trailblazer]

So would you purposely believe (or pretend to believe) things that you think are most likely false?

I wouldn't. Truth is the foundation of all virtues.

 

[RestlessSoul]

So would you purposely believe (or pretend to believe) things that you think are most likely false?

Not consciously, no. I see no value at all in deliberate self deception. And I’m not advocating for living in a world where fantasy takes precedence over reality. For our beliefs to serve us well, they must correspond to objective reality to some extent.

That said, try getting a consensus on what is objectively real, and you’ll find every question leads only to more questions. And this is as likely to be so if you ask a theoretical physicist, as a philosopher or theologian.

 

[Trailblazer]

Since we cannot know for sure what is true,

I think we can know what is true, although we cannot prove it to other people. We can only prove it to ourselves.
Religious beliefs are not subject to proof, only certitude.

 

[RestlessSoul]

I think we can know what is true, although we cannot prove it to other people. We can only prove it to ourselves.
Religious beliefs are not subject to proof, only certitude.

As Pilate asked Jesus, “What is truth?”

 

[Trailblazer]

As Pilate asked Jesus, “What is truth?”

God is truth.

 

[ChieftheCef]

Should we base our beliefs on what we get out of them or on what is true?

why not both honestly, genuinely?