Your belief system?

[Dionysus]

I don't have a belief system. I try and consciously avoid belief systems since I think it creates a barrier between yourself and immediate experience and perception. I have a value system, but that is a different thing.

This is an extremely important point! I had never quite articulated it internally like that either but you're so right, value systems > belief systems.

I figure that values are something that you pursue. Like I may invest 1000's of hours into learning an instrument because I value the ability to create music, or I may invest a lifetime in the pursuit of knowledge because I value curiosity as a vital component in my life, or simply because it is fun. A belief system on the other hand seems to me to be a metaphysical or psychological edifice in which the individual can justify or reinforce an abstraction that isn't necessarily self apparently valuable. The focus of a value system can also be included in a belief system, like someone may value knowledge personally whilst also believing in some platonic metaphysics of knowledge, but not all belief systems require the adherents to cherish the focus as something valuable. What people find valuable they find valuable because of direct experience and interaction, but what people believe in is usually a control system they got brainwashed or conditioned into at some point, obviously with some exceptions.

[FON]

I don't have a belief system. I try and consciously avoid belief systems since I think it creates a barrier between yourself and immediate experience and perception. I have a value system, but that is a different thing.

This is an extremely important point! I had never quite articulated it internally like that either but you're so right, value systems > belief systems.

I figure that values are something that you pursue. Like I may invest 1000's of hours into learning an instrument because I value the ability to create music, or I may invest a lifetime in the pursuit of knowledge because I value curiosity as a vital component in my life, or simply because it is fun. A belief system on the other hand seems to me to be a metaphysical or psychological edifice in which the individual can justify or reinforce an abstraction that isn't necessarily self apparently valuable. The focus of a value system can also be included in a belief system, like someone may value knowledge personally whilst also believing in some platonic metaphysics of knowledge, but not all belief systems require the adherents to cherish the focus as something valuable. What people find valuable they find valuable because of direct experience and interaction, but what people believe in is usually a control system they got brainwashed or conditioned into at some point, obviously with some exceptions.

Wouldn't you say we're 'brainwashed' or 'conditioned' to accept cultural and social values?

[DaGuru]

Wouldn't you say we're 'brainwashed' or 'conditioned' to accept cultural and social values?

MOST of society is, absolutely yes. Unless you are of strong will, and strong mind it is a lot easier and more comfortable to just go along with the flow and follow everyone else. "Nationalistic pride" is a great example of all that. Its starts at a very young age being forced to say the Pledge of Allegiance, and very few put actual thought or conviction into the words they are saying day after day after day. Fast forward to adulthood, and how many people are willing to leave their hat on during the Star Spangled Banner during a sporting event....or just go to concessions and buy another beer and hotdog?

At the end of the day it all boils down to ...."my colored cloth on a stick is better than your colored cloth on a stick" but because of conditioning and indoctrination, people are willing to actually DIE for their sticks, and mistakenly believe the politics that goes on half a world away actually "effects" their lives. They bought into the rhetoric and hubris because they've been conditioned to do so, and are just following the herd like a good little sheep because they are fearful of being ostracized and desperately need to fit into the group for their own sense of personal well being and safety.

[equanimity]

Wouldn't you say we're 'brainwashed' or 'conditioned' to accept cultural and social values?

MOST of society is, absolutely yes. Unless you are of strong will, and strong mind it is a lot easier and more comfortable to just go along with the flow and follow everyone else. "Nationalistic pride" is a great example of all that. Its starts at a very young age being forced to say the Pledge of Allegiance, and very few put actual thought or conviction into the words they are saying day after day after day. Fast forward to adulthood, and how many people are willing to leave their hat on during the Star Spangled Banner during a sporting event....or just go to concessions and buy another beer and hotdog?

At the end of the day it all boils down to ...."my colored cloth on a stick is better than your colored cloth on a stick" but because of conditioning and indoctrination, people are willing to actually DIE for their sticks, and mistakenly believe the politics that goes on half a world away actually "effects" their lives. They bought into the rhetoric and hubris because they've been conditioned to do so, and are just following the herd like a good little sheep because they are fearful of being ostracized and desperately need to fit into the group for their own sense of personal well being and safety.

It's rude and obviously presumptuous to guess, but if I had to I'd peg you an atheist.  An angry atheist.

[joe camel]

I believe parts of Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and that fish grew legs and walked on land(it could happen)

To me all religions lead to the same God, if you can call it that, and i also believe even if you didn't believe in him as long as you were a good person i think you'd get into heaven. As long as your good sins outweigh your bad, and if you did something really horrible you'd have to devote the rest of your life to doing good deeds to make up for it.

I also believe in reincarnation.

[DaGuru]

It's rude and obviously presumptuous to guess, but if I had to I'd peg you an atheist.  An angry atheist.

Not even close. First off, having a mere mortal mind....I'm not arrogant enough to believe that we could ever have a true bigger picture understanding of creation or the cosmos. Its like an earthworm in the ground trying to begin comprehend the society of humans, its just impossible.

I would call myself "searcher"...as I'm always open to clues and knowledge of why we are here, and what the "purpose" is to life. If you had to nail me down, I'm a big believer in a lot of the Ancient Alien lore, as I believe our existence is just one cycle of many on this planet. IF there is some all powerful deity out there lording over us, I compare it more to an "aquarium" for us humans. Sure the Creators might have given us an environment to thrive and live in, but just like anyone that owns fish you aren't watching over them every waking second guiding and dictating their lives....nor do you have significant emotional investment over each fishes well being. In a collective sense you want to have a nice aquarium with various life, but each separate entity in that aquarium can't be "saved" based on personal intervention, prayer, or much of anything else other than sustaining a decent place to live.

Also, I'm a strong believer in The Secret/Laws of Attraction....as I've seen firsthand the blessings (and scurges) of that kind of practice. Its an easy ideology to understand, but VERY difficult to master however.

[Rizzo in a box]

Also, I'm a strong believer in The Secret/Laws of Attraction....as I've seen firsthand the blessings (and scurges) of that kind of practice. Its an easy ideology to understand, but VERY difficult to master however.

What the thinker thinks, the prover proves.

[SupremeGentleman]

Agnostic. Religious belief or a wonder of a 'higher power' never occur to me.

[unbreakable matter]

I believe there's a god above me, I'm just the god of everything else- Pusha T

[RisiR]

Dionysus is smart as fuck.

Kudos.

[FON]

I've always considered ignosticism to be a particularly sensible way of approaching a religious discussion.

[mojo4567]

i am "mormon" technically but in reality i dont give a shit.

[Obbe]

i am "mormon" technically but in reality i dont give a shit.

Then you aren't Mormon.

[Riv3r]

I'm agnostic. The closest thing I can relate to politically is anarchism, though I don't consider myself one. I believe that anyone should be allowed to believe what they want and do what they want as long as it doesn't cause any harm to anyone else or interfere with their lives negatively. Live and let live. I don't believe in revenge, though I have vengeful tendencies and am imperfect. I'm also a bit of a nihilist. I have a hard time accepting that everything means something so I tend to enjoy a bit of chaos and disorder. This is kind of a tough one.

[splooge gook]

"everything that i think happens happens"