Opinion vs Belief

[VoiceOfReason]

So, not long ago I was having a fairly reasonable conversation with a Christian when it took a surprising turn.
"So what do you believe?" I was asked.
"In my opinion, we-" I began to answer.
"Opinion? I asked what you believe!" she restated.
"Well, I don't really 'believe' in things." I told her, "I need proof before I agree with an extraordinary claim. Once you have proof, no leap of faith is required. So this is my opinion."

Suddenly, I was being berated- not for my lack of Christianity, but for a strange form of political correctness I've never heard before. So I ask you all, is it 'arrogant' of me to state my views as opinion (as in conclusions drawn from fact) rather than belief?

Also, has anyone else encountered this? I hope this is an isolated incident and not a new outbreak of the ridiculous.

[Minimalist]

Let's see....

In my opinion, John McCain is an asshole.

I also believe that John McCain is an asshole.

My evidence for both is that he picked Sarah Fucking Palin to be his VP running mate.


I think the words are interchangeable.

[Eilonnwy]

Wut?

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

Semantic wankery on both sides, conflating 'belief' and 'faith'.

Faith is belief without evidence,but a belief can be based on evidence. EG my belief the sun will rise tomorrow or my belief in the theory of evolution.

My opinion may or may not be based on evidence. (or the lack of evidence).

It is my opinion that there is probably no god.

I believe that like all human behaviour ,religion has function.

It is my opinion that Fred Phelps is a hateful old bigot and probably mentally unwell.

It is my opinion that Barrack Obama is a mediocre president, more style than substance.

It is my opinion that Pepsi tastes better than Coke.


I consider any belief I hold to be an opinion supported by evidence.

[VoiceOfReason]

All good points. I just prefer to avoid the word 'belief' because of all the faith associations. I've had people jump all over less. (See above story for example...sigh)
It's a pet peeve of mine when I want to get to the reasons why I don't think there is a god and someone decides to go on a tangent over wording. So I get overcautious, yet apparently not overcautious enough to make it to my point...

[Zen Badger]

My opinion is that your xtian friend is an idiot.

[Violet]

Opinions = beliefs. Utterly interchangeable.

[Edwardo Piet]

No it's not arrogant because everyone has opinions. Unless that means everyone=arrogant... in which case, where's the worry?

EvF

[Pippy]

I wouldn't say that either poll choice is apt.

Certainly I don't think belief and opinion are interchangeable. I think a belief is more pragmatic, that you choose to beleive ion something for a reason. In contrast, an opinion is a nice way of quantifying your reality so that it can disagree with others and not create a giant kerfuffle. A belief can really never be proven, per se, and an opinion is not held on it's moral or personal value, just it's thruthiness to the speaker.

I beleive in some gods and goddesses, and I suppose it is of my opinion that they exist, but to me those are very different statements. That I beleive is subjective, that I hold an opinion tries to make the concept objective, that it should hold true for everyone (in theory).

Do you guys believe there are no gods, hold the opinion there are no gods, or just plain old fashion know as much?

[downbeatplumb]

Do you guys believe there are no gods, hold the opinion there are no gods, or just plain old fashion know as much?
[/quote]

There is no evidence for god/gods this leads me to the conclusion that there is no god/gods.

This, in turn, leads me to the belief that there are no god/gods in the same way that I believe there is no elephant in my kitchen.

If for some reason I started finding large round poos and suspicious tracks on the floor I may have to re-evaluate my elephant in kitchen stance, until then I shall go on believeing there is no elephant in the kitchen.

My beliefs are based on evidence and observation not lies and fairy tales. (which is how I see all the religious texts I have knowledge of).

I will go further, I 'know' that the abrahamic god is so unlikely and such an obviously man made construct that I can 'know' with a reasonable level of confidence that it does not exist.