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Perspective and Belief
December 18, 2011 at 3:31 am
A simple question which I would like some opinions on. Which comes first? Does perspective determine belief? or does belief determine perspective? Also, what roles do reality and imagination play in these determinations?
I'll define what I mean by perspective and belief, so as to avert possible side arguments.
Perspective - the way in which one views the world
Belief - a causal item which affects the decisions one makes in relation to their interaction with the world
Effectively my questions become: Does the way in which one views the world determine how they make decisions in relation to their interactions with the world around them? or, Does the way in which they make decisions determine the way in which they view the world?
Perhaps the answer is simply yes, or simply no, but I would appreciate some explanation along with your answer. Thanks for your time.
Brevity is the soul of wit.
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RE: Perspective and Belief
December 18, 2011 at 4:06 am
(December 18, 2011 at 3:31 am)Perhaps Wrote: A simple question which I would like some opinions on. Which comes first? Does perspective determine belief? or does belief determine perspective? Also, what roles do reality and imagination play in these determinations?
I'll define what I mean by perspective and belief, so as to avert possible side arguments.
Perspective - the way in which one views the world
Belief - a causal item which affects the decisions one makes in relation to their interaction with the world
Effectively my questions become: Does the way in which one views the world determine how they make decisions in relation to their interactions with the world around them? or, Does the way in which they make decisions determine the way in which they view the world?
Perhaps the answer is simply yes, or simply no, but I would appreciate some explanation along with your answer. Thanks for your time.
I see it as both, I think ones personality would determine which is true for him/her.
God loves those who believe and those who do not and the same goes for me, you have no choice in this matter. That puts the matter of total free will to rest.
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RE: Perspective and Belief
December 18, 2011 at 4:47 am
If you tear it all away to each persons beginning, it would be perspective. As babies we saw the world as new and vulnerable beings, dependent on older people for everything, including what we come to know and believe. It is perspective that gives birth to each person's original beliefs. When a child asks a question, and they are told an answer, they believe it. They believe it because of their perspective as dependents. Evolution by natural selection has programmed this into our DNA, which is why we are here today. We are born with a perception to believe what our parents tell us.
As we grow, does that change? Maybe?
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RE: Perspective and Belief
December 18, 2011 at 7:10 am
Perspective is derived from belief I think. What you reason to be true influences your actions. A belief is a foundational stance upon which you act out your life.
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RE: Perspective and Belief
December 18, 2011 at 10:59 am
Frodo's always quick to jump when he has an opportunity to equate belief with reason, lol.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
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RE: Perspective and Belief
December 18, 2011 at 4:11 pm
Meanwhile Rhythm's always quick to stand up for irrationality 
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RE: Perspective and Belief
December 18, 2011 at 4:20 pm
My perception affects my opinion of things. Such as the natural world and how it works. Never perceived exterior forces like beings affecting anything, or even existing for that matter. So saw no reason to hold such beliefs in beings.
Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence - Carl Sagan
Mankind's intelligence walks hand in hand with it's stupidity.
Being an atheist says nothing about your overall intelligence, it just means you don't believe in god. Atheists can be as bright as any scientist and as stupid as any creationist.
You never really know just how stupid someone is, until you've argued with them.
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RE: Perspective and Belief
December 19, 2011 at 12:36 am
(This post was last modified: December 19, 2011 at 12:46 am by Perhaps.)
Would anything change in your answers if I specified my question further? If I ask, in the instance of science, does perspective determine belief? or does belief determine perspective? Also, in the instance of faith, does perspective determine belief? or does belief determine perspective?
I think I would answer in relation to science that belief determines perspective. I say this because the way in which a scientific experiment is conducted would determine what is observed, thus affecting perception. I don't think that science conducts itself in a manner which follows our observations - that would simply lead to fixed conclusions based on what we want as a result. But perhaps I'm wrong here. Maybe science does create fixed results, simply confirming what we perceive to exist. Either way is interesting to think about.
I think I would answer in relation to faith that, once again, belief determines perspective. I say this because faith is derived from belief (in my opinion) and thus, in order to possess faith one must possess belief which would then affect perception as a result. Those with faith observe the world the way their belief allows them to see it.
Perhaps I'm wrong in my analysis of these specific questions, but it is interesting to me to observe the similar characteristics in each analysis.
(December 18, 2011 at 4:47 am)aleialoura Wrote: If you tear it all away to each persons beginning, it would be perspective. As babies we saw the world as new and vulnerable beings, dependent on older people for everything, including what we come to know and believe. It is perspective that gives birth to each person's original beliefs. When a child asks a question, and they are told an answer, they believe it. They believe it because of their perspective as dependents. Evolution by natural selection has programmed this into our DNA, which is why we are here today. We are born with a perception to believe what our parents tell us.
As we grow, does that change? Maybe?
I agree, at birth it is perspective which drives belief. But I do think that in certain areas it is the other way around. But who knows?
Brevity is the soul of wit.
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RE: Perspective and Belief
December 19, 2011 at 12:40 am
I think its funny that people get so hung up on these semantics.... perspective, believe, faith, lack of faith.... its all garbage. Either you think make believe is real, or you don't. It doesn't matter if someone wants to say I have beliefs because I don't believe in myths, because that doesn't change my position.
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RE: Perspective and Belief
December 19, 2011 at 12:44 am
(December 19, 2011 at 12:40 am)helmespc Wrote: I think its funny that people get so hung up on these semantics.... perspective, believe, faith, lack of faith.... its all garbage. Either you think make believe is real, or you don't. It doesn't matter if someone wants to say I have beliefs because I don't believe in myths, because that doesn't change my position.
I'm not aiming to affirm that you either 'think make believe is real, or you don't'. I'm asking a question on 'semantics'. If you don't like the question then that's perfectly fine, but no need to voice it.
Brevity is the soul of wit.
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