The problem is not believing in and of itself, the problem is believing in things that are not demonstrated to be true. Even worse is believing things that are blatantly made up at the moment.
Beliefs of any kind have a desperate need to be reasonable. If I say that evolution is true because of the mountains of evidence there are in its favour, then my belief is justifiable and reasonable.
But if I claim that consciousness is eternal and the universe is infinite without bringing to the table even the slightest amount of evidence, then my belief is completely unreasonable and is likely not to be conform to reality.
Beliefs of any kind have a desperate need to be reasonable. If I say that evolution is true because of the mountains of evidence there are in its favour, then my belief is justifiable and reasonable.
But if I claim that consciousness is eternal and the universe is infinite without bringing to the table even the slightest amount of evidence, then my belief is completely unreasonable and is likely not to be conform to reality.
"Every luxury has a deep price. Every indulgence, a cosmic cost. Each fiber of pleasure you experience causes equivalent pain somewhere else. This is the first law of emodynamics [sic]. Joy can be neither created nor destroyed. The balance of happiness is constant.
Fact: Every time you eat a bite of cake, someone gets horsewhipped.
Facter: Every time two people kiss, an orphanage collapses.
Factest: Every time a baby is born, an innocent animal is severely mocked for its physical appearance. Don't be a pleasure hog. Your every smile is a dagger. Happiness is murder.
Vote "yes" on Proposition 1321. Think of some kids. Some kids."
Fact: Every time you eat a bite of cake, someone gets horsewhipped.
Facter: Every time two people kiss, an orphanage collapses.
Factest: Every time a baby is born, an innocent animal is severely mocked for its physical appearance. Don't be a pleasure hog. Your every smile is a dagger. Happiness is murder.
Vote "yes" on Proposition 1321. Think of some kids. Some kids."
