Are beliefs ever justified?
Ok, this is much better. First, i would like to continue our discussion on beliefs, but i would also like to present some other questions that may or may not help with the original discussion.
If beliefs are self-justified(any type of belief, not just of God), vary from person to person, and is all depended on how we percieve things, then what is reality? Is reality one or many? Is reality the outcome of our beliefs, or the other way around? If reality is the outcome of our beliefs, then what is truth?
After reading what everyone has said regarding belief, it has come to my attention that there can be two types of belief, belief in or belief that. Everyone stressing "belief in" something seem correct in saying that they need no reason for it. If God himself is not a sufficient ground for believing IN him, then no amount of rational proof will help. The only "reason" anyone should believe in God, is that he is God.
On the other hand, if one is speaking about "belief that" God exists, it would seem that evidence or reason does bear on this question. For how does one know THAT it is God speaking to them(rather than one's own imagination) unless he has some way to distinguish truth from falsity?
If beliefs are self-justified(any type of belief, not just of God), vary from person to person, and is all depended on how we percieve things, then what is reality? Is reality one or many? Is reality the outcome of our beliefs, or the other way around? If reality is the outcome of our beliefs, then what is truth?
After reading what everyone has said regarding belief, it has come to my attention that there can be two types of belief, belief in or belief that. Everyone stressing "belief in" something seem correct in saying that they need no reason for it. If God himself is not a sufficient ground for believing IN him, then no amount of rational proof will help. The only "reason" anyone should believe in God, is that he is God.
On the other hand, if one is speaking about "belief that" God exists, it would seem that evidence or reason does bear on this question. For how does one know THAT it is God speaking to them(rather than one's own imagination) unless he has some way to distinguish truth from falsity?