Religion

DetlefK

(16,670 posts) Thu Jul 16, 2015, 11:43 AM Jul 2015

How do believers decide whether a belief is valid? [View all]

- There is a monster under my bed.
- Lizard-people have infiltrated government.
- We had a great time: There will definitely be a second date.
- I believe that the dinosaurs went extinct in the great flood.
- I believe that dinosaurs never existed and are just a hoax to test our belief.
- I believe that Earth is 6000 years old.
- I believe that God created the Big Bang.
- I believe that we should be nice to everybody.
- I believe we should chop off the heads of the infidels.
- I believe I have my keys in the other jacket.

What criteria are used by believers when determining how to react to a belief?

How do believers decide whether to believe what they are told?

How do believers decide whether to react to a new belief with "I-must-talk-him-out-of-this" or with "I-should-tolerate-this"?

14 replies

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How do believers decide whether a belief is valid? [View all] DetlefK Jul 2015 OP

This is an impossible question to answer for any follower of a revealed religion. trotsky Jul 2015 #1

But, how can I rule out that there's a monster under my child's bed? DetlefK Jul 2015 #2

The supreme irony, as we have seen now in this very thread, is that... trotsky Jul 2015 #7

Watch this and believe! hedda_foil Jul 2015 #8

So much out-group nonsense. Igel Jul 2015 #4

To the contrary, it takes an outsider's perspective to understand. trotsky Jul 2015 #6

Here', I'll save us some time. Act_of_Reparation Jul 2015 #3

It's a sliding scale. Igel Jul 2015 #5

I've got to give you credit for providing such a thoughtful answer cbayer Jul 2015 #9

Seems to be when the 'Revelation'... uriel1972 Jul 2015 #10

I was once on a jury goldent Jul 2015 #11

I believe I'll have another beer Major Nikon Jul 2015 #12

'Feels good, man'. AtheistCrusader Jul 2015 #13

There's so many different types of believers. ZombieHorde Jul 2015 #14