Beliefs

[pandora1723]

Well as far as my personal beliefs go... I believe that beliefs are a negative manifestation due to the fact that beliefs are stagnant. When you really believe something to be true then you are not open to the possibility that it is not true. When later you are shown that you are wrong, you react negatively instead of learning. I am of the firm

Comments

Disbelief

[dargon_swift]

You can not start a diatribe against belief with "I believe...", lol. Perhaps, "I disbelieve..." Semantics aside, I disagree, to a degree. My view is that belief is essential to growth, and not counterproductive to it. The trick is being wise enough to question your beliefs from time to time. Beliefs should be cyclic, just like all else in nature, and must go through a process of decay and rebirth. That is the way nature makes things grow, and I feel that the same principle can and should govern ideas as well.

re: disbelief

[oneiromancer666]

The very fact that a diatribe against belief began with the words "I believe" is proof that a belief is an essential step in a cycle of ever increasing understanding. (I elaborated upon the evolution of belief below.)

[eternalmaiden]

For me, Belief is not concrete. Just because I believe something, does not make it truth. Truth can always alter my beliefs. What I believe now may not be what I belive next week, next year, next decade.

provisionality

[oneiromancer666]

Beliefs are not inherently stagnant, but stagnancy is indeed a possible pitfall of belief. The evolution of any system towards a higher state of quality requires three mechanisms: creation [of new patterns], preservation [of the highest quality patterns], and destruction [of the lowest quality patterns]. Belief only becomes stagnant when there is an imbalance towards preservation. An imbalance that entirely lacks preservation would be just as unproductive though, for to not believe anything would be to render your mind impotent. Beliefs are meant to be provisional; they provide temporary stepping stones towards higher states of understanding. Your mind does require such footing

[pandora1723]

I will change my wording slightly... it will help... it is my firm belief that one should not hold firm beliefs.... beliefs are ok, as long as they are not firm.