The cynic in me wants to agree with this statement. But whilst that's certainly a factor I think the bigger factor is that it is very very hard to change your mind. Once you believe something it's difficult to un-believe it (I'm not sure the human brain works this way). The trick to combating this is to not 'believe' in the first place. So firstly be careful in what believe in in the first place. Secondly think of your beliefs as models which fit situations, models which can and will evolve as new facts are uncovered. In this way your 'belief' will not be contradicted as you 'believe' your 'beliefs' should change with evidence. Obviously still tricky to pull off, but it does make life easier.most people don't want to combat their confirmation bias.
What Characterizes God?
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Re: What Characterizes God?
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Re: What Characterizes God?
As you alluded to later in your post, we have to define what we mean by "belief". It's often used in a narrow sense as an approximate synonym for "faith". But if we use a wider definition - things that we currently have reason to be think are true, then as you said beliefs are mental models that are subject to revision and replacement in the light of new experiences.The trick to combating this is to not 'believe' in the first place.
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Re: What Characterizes God?
The problem with this approach to finding God is that you would be likely to mistake the norms of your upbringing or influences of others for "that answer".Lark_Truth wrote:God is:
Omnipotent
Omniscient
Omnipresent
If you can't quite seem to figure out who God is, then ask Him yourself, and he will answer. You just have to go looking for that answer.
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