(July 1, 2025 at 8:53 pm)Belacqua Wrote: For the record, you are correct that the word "believe" can be a synonym for "support”. The word basically has two meanings: to assent to the truth of a proposition, e.g. "I believe there is life on Mars." or: to have a firm conviction as to the goodness, efficacy, or ability of something, e.g. "I believe in equal rights for women." We currently don't have equal rights for women in a lot of places, but I hold that we really should. Therefore I believe in them.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/believe
I believe religion wields influence, but I do not believe that influence is beneficial. Your interlocutor should take the time to separate the two connotations. But somehow, he prefers conflating them.
