Why do you believe what you do?

[outhouse]

Or, why do you believe that what you believe is the truth?

I'm not really after answers like "because scripture says so" or "because my priest/parent/guru says so". I'd like to know why, on a personal level, you have accepted one set of beliefs to better reflect reality than any of the others.

education and carfull study has givin me a clear picture of how the bible was created.

for me its more knowing what not to believe then what I do believe. and some would like to argue that point as well.

 

[Tathagata]

Does it become close to inevitable? What evidence do you have to back up your claim? How can you calculate the chances of intelligent life occurring? The chances are extremely small, and in my opinion not even the vastness of the universe makes it inevitable.

I believe that there may well be life elsewhere in the universe, but the chances of life becoming intelligent seems too small to me.

The Anthropic Principle disproves this belief. If it is true that there is an infinite multiverse (which it likely is given the current evidence and understanding of physics), then our universe is 100% likely to have the right conditions to support life. Why? Because even if the chance of intelligent is incredibly small, in an infinite Multiverse there is bound to be some percentage of universes that supprt life and ours is one of them.


.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Or, why do you believe that what you believe is the truth?

Because it makes sense. And I'm good at determining what makes sense.

 

[Tathagata]

I was once a New Ager, but once exposed to Buddhism my views of what I thought were true, changed. I believed in God and a lot of New Age beliefs. I was also a truthseeker/freethinker, so when I found out Buddhism is a religion that seeks Enlightenment, I was immeditately drawn to it. Then, the character of Buddha himself intrigued and inspired me so I began to research more about Buddhism and read the scriptures.

As a New Ager which has very fluffy and spirit-based beliefs, I was surprised that an Eastern religion like Buddhism was so contrary to common spirituality like souls and God. It was the teachings of the Buddha that actually turned me Atheist and made me drop a lot of my New Age beliefs. And being a fan of Christopher Hitchens (I was a New Age Theist, but I was still anti-religion), I really liked how the Buddha had a very similar attitude and style of teaching to Hitchens.

So really, it was this new way of thinking, this new form of epistemology introduced by Buddhism, and the fact that aligned with some previous beliefs like the Multiverse and emphasis on consciousness and the inspiring character of the Buddha that drew me towards Buddhism.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Or, why do you believe that what you believe is the truth?

I'm not really after answers like "because scripture says so" or "because my priest/parent/guru says so". I'd like to know why, on a personal level, you have accepted one set of beliefs to better reflect reality than any of the others.

I just gave up believing and decided to do the best I possibly can with whatever becomes obvious and direct. Doesn't stop my personal speculation and musings, yet nevertheless I find things become helluva lot easier when you simply allow the direct realities of life and living to flow naturally with full acceptance without incurring any need or desire to embellish the experience or to justify it.

 

[hadzo]

Most people on this world will tend to set truth by leaning on religion based on what makes them feel content and at ease with reality.

But the truth is that there is no “truth”. The truth hasn’t been discovered yet, well not in regard to everything at least.

Religions do not contain the truth they just offer different varieties of possible truths.

Science is the leader here simply because it has discovered the most truths of our surroundings and us.

With that said I’d say for my self I’m yet to discover the truth. If it takes a lifetime than so be it. In the mean time I stick to rationalism and realism.

Then you do not understand the scale of the universe. Imagine every star system is playing the lottery, and they get the life to evolve if they get the winning ticket. Except this lottery's tickets have 13 numbers, not 6.

You still get one winner for every one of 400 billion galaxies.

Very well put...

The fact that we exist (at least in what we recognize as existence of our conscious state) puts these odds in play.

 

[The Sum of Awe]

Because my study of religious beliefs varying, reading a lot of holy books and philosophical books, I could square the equation of all beliefs down into a simple one; my beliefs.

 

[Twig pentagram]

Or, why do you believe that what you believe is the truth?

I'm not really after answers like "because scripture says so" or "because my priest/parent/guru says so". I'd like to know why, on a personal level, you have accepted one set of beliefs to better reflect reality than any of the others.

I don't really believe in anything but I try to think about everything. I have high hopes but I don't think hopes and beliefs are the same.

 

[Muffled]

Or, why do you believe that what you believe is the truth?

I'm not really after answers like "because scripture says so" or "because my priest/parent/guru says so". I'd like to know why, on a personal level, you have accepted one set of beliefs to better reflect reality than any of the others.

I believe because of the reality of my life. As Descartes puts it "I think, therefore I am." I believe because the religious experience is reality.

 

[Muffled]

Because "science is the best tool ever devised for understanding how the world works."

Surely it is a great religion that teaches that the world works by setting off a chain reaction that wipes out the lives of millions of people in a city.

 

[chinu]

Or, why do you believe that what you believe is the truth?

Than ..... what else anybody can do ???
All this is according to the law & order of "Supreame" (God)

_/\_
Chinu

 

[PolyHedral]

Surely it is a great religion that teaches that the world works by setting off a chain reaction that wipes out the lives of millions of people in a city.

Science only tells you how the world works. How you leverage that is your own responsibility.

(And it was only thousands. )

 

[Muffled]

Obviously, the answer will differ depending on which specific belief you wish to discuss.

As far as my Buddhist practice, I 'believe' in it, because I continue to test it and it continues to work. I practice, I see results. I stop practicing, those results vanish. So it's akin to believing in electricity; I turn the switch, the lights come on. Of course, I have to pay the light bill, and occasionally change a bulb, but you get my meaning.

Almost anything can get results. Even science at times manages that much. I flick a light switch and the light comes on. As far as I can tell electriciy seems to be a valid belief even though most of the time I can't see it. However science can't tell me whether I should touch a live wire or not but only that the results could be the end of my life. Some things are pretty obvious such as Jesus saying that soldiers are apt to lose their lives. Jesus say that a person should count the cost of what he does. That makes a lot of sense to me. Why would I defend a body that is only temporary when I have a spirit that lives on after I die. Which is of more value that which is temporary or that which is permanent?

 

[Copernicus]

...Why would I defend a body that is only temporary when I have a spirit that lives on after I die. Which is of more value that which is temporary or that which is permanent?

That is a very good question, because people make life-and-death decisions that depend on the answer to that question. Those decisions have social consequences. So it is important to understand why you believe that your spirit can outlast your body. You believe that it does. I believe that it doesn't.

 

[atanu]

That is a very good question, because people make life-and-death decisions that depend on the answer to that question. Those decisions have social consequences. So it is important to understand why you believe that your spirit can outlast your body. You believe that it does. I believe that it doesn't.

Your existence and beliefs are from intercation of brain chemicals. I wonder why you even want to show us wrong? What goads you on? Inexplicable.

 

[Copernicus]

Your existence and beliefs are from intercation of brain chemicals. I wonder why you even want to show us wrong? What goads you on? Inexplicable.

Perhaps it is the fact that I am posting in a debate forum, and I am motivated by the same force that goads you on. I offer that as an explanation.

 

[hellfire]

I believe because of the reality of my life. As Descartes puts it "I think, therefore I am." I believe because the religious experience is reality.

I don't think. Does that mean i don't exist?

 

[atanu]

Perhaps it is the fact that I am posting in a debate forum, and I am motivated by the same force that goads you on. I offer that as an explanation.

I have a conscious intention stemming from ego self. That is an identity, which you do not have. Which chemical has authorised your "I" ..........?

 

[ellenjanuary]

If yer going to be in love with a movie star, Gwyneth Paltrow is a fine choice. Amazingly hot.

a convert?

 

[Engyo]

Almost anything can get results. Even science at times manages that much. I flick a light switch and the light comes on. As far as I can tell electriciy seems to be a valid belief even though most of the time I can't see it. However science can't tell me whether I should touch a live wire or not but only that the results could be the end of my life. Some things are pretty obvious such as Jesus saying that soldiers are apt to lose their lives. Jesus say that a person should count the cost of what he does. That makes a lot of sense to me. Why would I defend a body that is only temporary when I have a spirit that lives on after I die. Which is of more value that which is temporary or that which is permanent?

The highlighted phrase above is a viewpoint I don't subscribe to. When someone can prove that such a spirit truly does live on eternally after the death of the body, then I will be able to examine doctrines based on such a concept seriously.