Reply #16: Its about how the mind works [View All]

[Az]

The mind is an emotional engine. That is our ideas and thoughts are stored via emotional relevance. We constantly have a struggle going on within our mind determing what we accept as true of the world around us. This struggle is carried out by comparing the emotional weight of the opposing notions and its supporting ideas. Whichever idea carries the most weight is what we believe to be true.

Doubt occurs when there is a balance between opposing ideas. At such a time the mind begins to experience stress and anxiety. Such states of balance make it impossible for the mind to make descisions (ie make up its mind). Thus at such times the mind turns to various tools it has developed. Some of these tools are things such as looking for signs, supersticion, turning to peers, and various other methods. Reason and rational thought are just such tools the mind (via society) has learned to develop in order to leverage such emotional stasis.

What reason and rational thought do is help add or remove emotional weight to one side of a position or another. They do not form the basis of a belief but they can tip indecision within the mind. This is what I mean by saying "leverage it's feelings".

As to what I believe. Since I do not believe there are god(s) then this would imply that I believe it to be an objective condition. That is we are in the same universe and I believe that those who believe in gods are mistaken. I do not presume I have to be right. But if you ask my honest opinion then I feel they are wrong and I am right. Which is of course true of anyone.