We are encouraged to "respect the beliefs of others," but I wonder, is that always true? Is it only true of "religious" beliefs, but not necessarily other ones?

Let's try a thought experiment. Let's say that I believe there's a diamond the size of an ostrich egg buried in my yard. I just haven't dug it up yet because -- well, because I haven't needed to. True, I've over-borrowed a little, but just knowing that I am protected by that diamond, I don't really need to worry about it.

So, why do I believe this? Because my father told me about it. Of course, he had inherited the story, and a fair amount of money, from his father (my grandfather). And my grandfather had heard a rumour circulating that my great-grandfather had absconded with that diamond, and considerable other treasure (that's where the money came from) during a trip to the Caribbean.

Anyway, just knowing that diamond is there -- even though I have actually seen it yet -- is a great comfort to me. It makes me happy to know that one day I'll be rich because of it, and anyway, if bad times come and my debts default, I won't lose my home because I'll just have to spend some time digging, and I'll find it. That's why I don't worry about over-extended credit (which to tell the truth is a little worse than I made out at the beginning of this story).

Now, then, the point of this though experiment is: I have 3 generations of family history telling me that this diamond actually exists. Believing it gives me hope, happiness and comfort. And I am depending upon it. Those seem like pretty good reasons to believe it, don’t they?

What would anyone say about my belief? Is it warranted? Why haven't I (or my father or grandfather) bothered to go and find the thing? Are we, perhaps, afraid that it won't be there, and the loss of this comforting belief would be too terrible to bear?

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evangelicalhumanist: Greek "eu"=good and "angelos"=messenger. Spreading the good news of Humanism.

If your belief gives you comfort and security, happiness and hope, who I am to take your belief away from you? It serves you, because it serves a purpose. Who am I to say you need proof for your belief, since the results of you belief can already be seen and experienced?

The only time I would ask you to question your belief is if they did not serve you. If you worried and feared, if you were sick and depressed. With other words, if your beliefs have not brought you the fruitage hoped for, you might want to question your belief and what you are creating (most likely unconsciously).

I agree that beliefs don't just effect the area of religion, but every area of our life. Your beliefs create your experience....as you believe so be it done.

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May your awareness be perfection

Of course we must respect the beliefs of others. Society is built on it and the Great Beast thrives on it. If we didn't create and manipulate beliefs the whole world of advertising and marketing would collapse. Their success is dependent on the nature of our beliefs.

It is up to a person to decide if they need and have the courage for truth or prefer blind conditioned beliefs. If they do, then they must make the impartial efforts to "Know thyself." If not, they can worry about everyone else's beliefs remaining unconcerned about their own blind beliefs.

Your metaphore is quaint.
Yet your beliefs allow for precrastination.
If Christ had left the garden only twenty minutes earlier perhaps the whole universe would have fully understood his teachings and not just a select handfull. A belief that shows you comfort without emmerssion is irrational.
The basis of belief is in what is rational and what is irrational, to be able to know the difference is the ground work for sound beliefs.

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GOD is an Acronym, G:reatest O:mnipotent D:eity

Hi evangelicalhumanist

It seems that in your story there is a couple of ways to see it . As you have said many times that comparing the Great Pumpkin to Moses and the Red Sea is difficult whatever lol.
However when l see your words in equation l see the question of the equation as sort of ,,"what happens if the diamond is not there ?"
But this equation cannot exist in the context you have put it because you are putting the diamond [a materialistic item] into a category of God which is not a materialistic item so the equation " what if the diamond or God is not there" is not the equation you have presented and the equation you present is " can we replace the diamond with the word God and get the same result ?" and the answer is not there because that equation cannot exist so what you are saying is almost in a sense what believers are saying however it cannot be put into a comparable context like that because God cannot be measured in a format of the conclusion being something defined such as in the diamond format context of your post .

I would say no one ever tried to dig for the diamond literally, becaue they all knew it was within them. They had the wisdom to know they had to dig within themselves to find it. Which is the way all scripture can be interpreted. The diamond would be a symbol of inner strength. Stories like this and scripture are meant to assist in looking within. They are like koans.

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InterfaithForums.com-Where your ideas and beliefs count.

What i would say, evangelicalhumanist, is that i completely respect your belief, you are entitled to your own beliefs whether or not they are supported by evidence... or reason.

Who am i to attempt to disabuse you of -- or to cast doubt upon --your beliefs?

However, if you go on to tell me that i must believe them, then that's a very different matter, i would expect evidence - in the form of a share of the proceeds.


Peace, Love, & Light

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"An object is perceived, or not perceived, according as the mind is, or is not, tinged with the colour of the object. "
Patanjali - Sutra 4:17

LOL Aged Hippy. Yes, why should not all benefit from a belief that is profitable. You make a good point in seeing that your belief is your belief, you should not have to justify or prove your belief, but on the other hand people should only share where it is asked for, wanted or like here on this forum welcomed : )

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May your awareness be perfection

Precisely so, Vivamis, the only time - in my opinion - that it's necessary to prove or to justify one's own beliefs is if one claims that they should be believed -- or be believed in -- by others, or if one claims that one's own beliefs actually apply to others - as in the case of religions and beliefs which claim that everyone is "sinful" by nature, or that we are somehow "fallen".


"Beliefs" should never be confused with - nor mistaken for - facts.


Peace, Love, & Light

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"An object is perceived, or not perceived, according as the mind is, or is not, tinged with the colour of the object. "
Patanjali - Sutra 4:17

And therein lies the moral of the tale, because when I next go looking for credit, and I am asked what sort of collateral I have, I am going to be asking someone else to believe what I believe. And they will most assuredly ask for the evidence!

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evangelicalhumanist: Greek "eu"=good and "angelos"=messenger. Spreading the good news of Humanism.