• Walop@sopuli.xyz
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    6 days ago

    Because as Terry Pratchett astutely notes in the Hogfather belief is what makes the human society possible. We invented justice, mercy, duty, laws, money etc. They exist only because we believe in them. Some beliefs make the world better, other ones worse, and we should try to emphasize the former and minimize the latter.

    • DominatorX1@thelemmy.clubOP
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      6 days ago

      Ok. So there’s benefit there as long as the believing is controlled.

      Is there a general benefit or liability to believing? What do we gain and lose simply by believing, no matter what the belief?

  • I believe in science. I believe in justice, equality, and freedom. I believe fascism and capitalism is detrimental to humanity.

    I do not believe in ghosts. I do not believe in gods, angels or demons. I don’t believe in an afterlife. And I don’t believe corporations are people.

  • Magiilaro@feddit.org
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    5 days ago

    Beliefs are important, beliefs are what gets us through life somewhat mentally sane.

    Beliefs are (for example) the cornerstone of relationships, because you have to believe that your partner really loves you. There is no hard evidence for that so it can never be a fact, only a belief.

    I believe that my neighbors don’t plan to kill me in my sleep (why should they, I am a nice and easy neighbor), I believe that the person at the fast food corner doesn’t spit on my food (and that they had washed hands after using the toilet), I believe that my landlord will some day repair the water damage in my second bathroom (and put all the bathroom stuff like sink, shower and toilet back in).

    One could say that belief is behind everything where “trust” is involved. Belief is just accepting something as true, either because it is something that is a concept without hard facts (love, religion, justice, freedom, money, “the good in people”) or it is something where the information are lacking either because they are not fully known yet or because it is such a complex topic that having all information is (nearly) impossible.

    I believe for example that climate change is real, because I trust (there it is again) the science. I have to believe in this case because I can’t have all the information without studying climate sciences, and one can argument that even our best climate scientists doesn’t have all the information (models are still incomplete and simulations don’t use all possible parameters) so even they have to believe for some parts.

    Beliefs become problematic when people take them as hard facts, as dogmas, and become extreme.

    I believe that taking extreme positions is always wrong and a way to disaster and suffering. That’s one reason why I don’t like faith and are against cults of any kinds.

    • DominatorX1@thelemmy.clubOP
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      5 days ago

      Are you saying that beliefs are useful (necessary even) for navigating other beliefs?

      For example, I believe that my neighbors wont kill me. I do that to stave off the belief that my neighbors will kill me.

      • Magiilaro@feddit.org
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        5 days ago

        The part with the neighbors was more or less only a joke. If i believe anything about them, then that they are good, honest and peacefull people. Because so far nothing happend to make be think otherwise.

        The belief that the neighbors will kill someone (oneself for example) sounds more like a delusion… or a really bad neighborhood!

        In both cases is a counter belief maybe not the best solution

        But yes, i do think that beliefs can be helpful to counter inner urges and impulses. The belief in laws and punishment by law is an example for it.

        And shared beliefs (for example faith and religion) acts like a glue for societies. The belief in eternal judgment by an all knowing god in combination with a holy law book (that is what most holy texts in their core are IMHO) helps to prevent chaos and ensures that people can work against a common and shared goal. As an example for the good and positive side of that.

        • DominatorX1@thelemmy.clubOP
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          5 days ago

          It was just an example.

          My point is the specific utility of beliefs. You seemed to be offering an interesting one.

          Imagine a landscape made of beliefs. In it you are always standing on some bunch of beliefs. So choosing and navigating is going to be important. To get to the good beliefs and avoid the bad ones.

          • Magiilaro@feddit.org
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            5 days ago

            The landscape should also have some strong pillars and mountains of hard facts and factual truth. But besides that, yes it sounds like a good mind construct. Interesting idea for sure.

  • FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world
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    7 days ago

    They do indeed.

    My parents are deeply religious, but have never figured out that it’s my siblings and I who actually answer their prayers.

    • RagingRobot@lemmy.world
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      7 days ago

      God sent you to them. It was their reward for rubbing their genitals together. Thank you heavenly Father!!

  • orbitz@lemmy.ca
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    7 days ago

    I always liked the line in Dogma about them, don’t turn ideas into beliefs, you can change ideas easier than beliefs. Paraphrased and I understand how much it waters down the whole problem but I still thought the idea of it was nice. Listen and be open, you shouldn’t always need to be rigid. Though mean there are still ideals I’m rigid about, respect, compassion and such. Though I always thought the idea was you thought about what worked best for everyone not just what people said you should do cause tradition.

    • DominatorX1@thelemmy.clubOP
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      5 days ago

      Easily said. But the psychological power of authority is so big. Authorities in the role of leader, expert, and the authority of the consensus. It may very well be programmed into our biology to automatically obey and believe. We may find ourselves falling into rigid belief without even trying.

  • waz@lemmy.world
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    6 days ago

    Read the book Sapiens.

    Being able to believe in fiction is what allows humanity to function.

  • rumba@lemmy.zip
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    7 days ago

    Belief isn’t inherently bad you can believe in observational facts. It’s faith that’s dangerous. Any system that requires you to maintain beliefs without observable facts or in the face of negative confirmational facts is a problem.

  • Rayquetzalcoatl@lemmy.world
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    7 days ago

    In my view, beliefs are important. To me, a person is built from their beliefs.

    Beliefs are mutable and can change for all sorts of reasons, at all sorts of speeds, and in all sorts of ways. They’re not permanent, but I do think they’re fundamental to the character of a person.

  • blarghly@lemmy.world
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    7 days ago

    Well yeah. What you believe is literally all reality is. Of course it’s important. I believe I’m sitting in a chair typing on my phone right now - if I didn’t have those beliefs, my reality would be completely different. That’s important