What are you thoughts on beliefs? Are they ever wrong?

Olivia said:
I haven't been communicating very well at all.

What if I put it this way: After viewing someone's actions is it possible to then know what that person's belief about doing those actions were? Can we be mind readers>?
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Yes, a resounding Yes. IMO.
 

Should I have said 'dependent on what action?' After all, some actions appear spontaneous? More details or examples, please, Olivia.
 
I believe I can fear everything, fear nothing, and choose to seek joy within those two extremes.
We live in a beautiful and hostile world and nothing is promised to us no matter what we believe.
 

Pepper said:
Should I have said 'dependent on what action?' After all, some actions appear spontaneous? More details or examples, please, Olivia.
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I can't give examples because then they wouldn't have come from a person's belief.
 
Take the shooter in Buffalo who stalked a supermarket. He killed only black people. I feel I could safely say he believed he hated black people. He confessed that was in his mind when he committed his act.
 
Olivia said:
What are you thoughts on beliefs? Are they ever wrong?
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There are two kinds: one is propositional and are basically statements of what you think to be true in the world. Some such statements can be shown to be true or false. Others cannot. Examples: 3 > 2: blue is my favorite color; there is a dragon in my garage; gluten is bad for you.

The other is dispositional. Those who believe in God or in their spouse or in a higher power have a disposition of trust toward that which they believe in. Statements regarding what one believes in cannot be reduced to statements of fact. For example belief in God is not equivalent to the belief that at least one god exists.
 
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Olivia said:
Yes! That is very close to what I was trying to get across. What the subconscious mind believes so that the conscious mind believes it too isn't a belief that can be disproven. A belief is a belief and only the believer can cast it as true or not.

Thank you! :) Other opinions are also welcome!
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Yes, in that context, I would agree.
 
Paco Dennis said:
OK, so let's say I have a belief that my house is haunted. I tell people, but they don't believe me. I even have them come to my house and spend the night. I hear many very strange things through the night, but my visitors still aren't convinced that it is haunted.? I guess we just don't believe the same things?
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Yes. Ghosts and spirits seem to be an exclusive experience just like UFOs which some members here have reported as true in their lives. I have never seen a UFO but have experienced a few encounters with ghosts. I was raised in an historical area famous for the American revolutionary war. There were significant battles and occurences in my area and the sudden death that accompanies and rebellion. Maybe some who died so suddenly and violently left a trace of themselves behind that only some of the rest of us are aware of?
:unsure:
 
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Brookswood said:
I taught Middle School. My classroom was full of 13 year olds who were NEVER wrong. But, not their teacher. Alas, as I learn more about something, I realize that I have often been wrong.
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Truly, the more you know, the better you see how little you can ever hope to be certain of. What did you teach in middle school?
 
Olivia said:
I haven't been communicating very well at all.

What if I put it this way: After viewing someone's actions is it possible to then know what that person's belief about doing those actions were? Can we be mind readers>?
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Actually, I think(believe) you're doing just fine. ;)

But yea, as they say- "actions speak louder than words", so if you see someone doing some action then you can safely surmise that they were carrying out their intentions, based on some belief that they had.
 

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