Convictions born of belief not reason?

Question

All our acts turn upon what we assume to be true, what we assume to know. The connection is so strong, so thoughtless, that when those things we need to be true are threatened, we try to make them true with our acts. We condemn the innocent to make them guilty. We raise the wicked to make it holy. Like the mother who continuesnursing her dead babe we act out of refusal.
When we believe without ground or cause , conviction is all we possess, and acts of conviction become our only demonstration. Our beliefs become our gods and we make sacrifices to appease them.
Do you think this may be true in fundamentalism of emotion and faith?

Answer 1

Well, yes, convictions usually are born of beliefs...at least in my case, I'll admit this is true.
As strange as this may sound, most of my strongest convictions are built around things that no one can prove one way or another using reason. And conviction, by definition, is an unshakable belief in something without a need for proof or evidence.
If you have a conviction, it doesn't need to be grounded in reason. It's yours.

Answer 2

As with most matters, convictions born of belief and not reason can be forces for extreme good OR extreme evil.
Faith is based on belief, and while many evil acts have been committed in the name of many religions, it's also true that many noble ones have as well.
Personally, I don't think it's possible to live a fulfilling life relying strictly on reason, especially since, in most if not all of us, reason is so limited.
I think most of us need to believe in some things that cannot, at least at present, be validated by reason.
The problem, as I see it, is not humankind's having convictions born of belief, it's what those beliefs are and whether following them will cause harm to others.
Many convictions born of belief rather than reason are worthwhile and some are exemplary.

Answer 3

Yes - I agree.

When someone challenges a person's illogical and unfounded beliefs, it's like watching them tear the cover off, uncovering all of a person's greatest fears.

These fears have never been addressed directly, in the bright clear light of day. It's like people throw a cosy blanket over a tattered couch so they don't have to look at it, and they can rest that it's 'taken care of'. It feels comfortable and it's shocking when you do pull the blanket away because you realise just how dirty, torn and frayed the couch really is.

Blind faith is no way to deal with our fears. It makes us stupid and dishonest. Why not just say, 'I don't know' rather than building up high towers of nonsense that crumble at the slightest challenge.

Good question / point.

Answer 4

Yes it is true but what is reason anyway?
Could it be a mass conviction born and built of belief of the majority?
I really can't make any reasonable thought which I can prove without a belief.

Answer 5

Perhaps in the fundamentalism of emotion, but not of faith, or at least not personal faith. Personal faith is not religion. It is a belief system internalized making it unique to each person. Many evil things have been done in the name of religion, it has been misused and abused by many world powers and politicians, and leaders.

Do not confuse these acts with faith. Faith is a personal, quiet thing practiced in privacy and guides, but does not control. Religion is a set of laws and doctrine that govern people. It is often the equivalent of a government.

My faith teaches me that I should not condemn, but lift up; not to judge, but to but accept; not to hate, but ot love. It teaches me that through this process, I become a better person. It guides my daily life. It's not easy, in fact it's a struggle.

Fundamentally we are all cave men, driven by personal and physical needs and emotions believing only in ourselves and in our personal need to survive. Fundamentally we are selfish. Fundamentally we have no faith.

Answer 6

firstly, how strong should our convictions hold true on both beliefs or reasons? should we continue on believing, never listening to reasons? or should one reason out without belief at all?

reality check, beliefs are made from reason and reasons sprungs out from beliefs. one can not survive without the other. your example on a mother nursing her dead child is purely made from both belief and reason. she believes her child is alive because of reason of love. the same therefore applies on too much of something drives a man crazy and obsess. else, we all live in fantasy...

truth of accepting is hurtful, painful... but one has to hold to reality and sanity. reasons can make beliefs disappear and beliefs can blind reason. the paradigm is to hold on to the truth, accepting what it gives without reasons nor beliefs. the only way to survive this jumbled world of dantasy/reality is to embrace the truth....

do i think its true in fundamentalism of emotion and faith? given what i've come to realize, yes... life is a mystery and its logic sometimes mystifies even the geniuses, smartiest, wisest amongst us. but the thread of life balances on reasons and beliefs. holding both in balance helps us accept truth....

Answer 7

Mind it, convictions born of beliefs not reasons are pure superstitions

Answer 8

Expectations , beyond realities, fear unfounded, the urge to seek a blind security from unforeseen, ... all these are the motivating factors for such fundamentalism.

Answer 9

Yes, to our detriment.