Personal beliefs: A matter of opinion? Or a matter of fact?

Question

What are your views on this?

Answer 1

My opinion is that my beliefs are factual. There.

Answer 2

Beliefs are, by definition, different from knowledge. They exist, in the background, even when you are not thinking about them. They influence thinking, even when not brought to consciousness. They are also not opinion as opinions are formed from knowledge or a combination of knowledge and beliefs.

Now this does not mean that all beliefs are equal. Quite the opposite. If a belief results in bad consequences then it should be examined and possibly discarded. If I believed in the tooth fairy enough to pull out my own teeth for money, then that belief is an inferior belief because it causes harm and produces no benefit. It also is discordant with the realities others observe. In and of itself, that does not make it an inferior belief, but it should serve as a warning.

On the other hand, a belief can be strictly false and still be helpful, if it helps predict outcomes successfully and is useful in your model of the world. As an example, economists often can assume, in the United States, that perfectly competitive markets exist. This is rarely true, but the reality is not different enough in many cases for the error to matter and it makes calculations much simpler. So a supposition within a belief system can be false, even knowingly false, but useful nonetheless. A belief, likewise, could be false, yet useful. Belief in a deity falls in this category, which is one of the reasons religions persist. It may not be true, it may even strictly be false, but such a belief is often useful to people.

An alcoholic who places their faith in an outer power, is psychologically putting themselves in a better place. They rationalize the mechanism as a divine being, but an atheist alcoholic, who realizes their life is out of their control is doing the same thing, but without the comforting thought. A religion, in this damaged person, may be the superior belief, because the world would be too difficult without the belief. Magical thinking exists because there are times it is useful.

Personal beliefs are not matters of fact, or they are knowledge. They may be confused with knowledge. For example, a belief in the bible is not knowledge, but a belief in God is knowledge if it is based upon a belief in the bible. The underlying belief may be false, but will be very difficult to reject because the trust is in others with authority and so belief in God appears as knowledge when it is actually a string of beliefs.

Empiricism offers a partial solution out of the problem, but not a whole solution since model dependence is inherent in significance testing.

Answer 3

A belief is a belief, not a fact. I believe my mother loves me but she may well have been lying all of these years.

Answer 4

Depends on the subject. Somethings are belief (morals) while others are based on facts (things tested via scientific model).

Answer 5

Hello sweet (((((((RedQueen)))))))

To me, my beliefs have shown to be fact in my life.. :)

But on the other hand..to others that do not know me personally..they may consider my beliefs, to be a matter of opinion.. :)

But whether fact or opinion..We all have them..LOL

I ~Love~ you (((((((ALL)))))))
In Jesus Most Precious Name..
With ~Love~ your "Friend" In Christ.. :)

Answer 6

Depends on the belief in question.

Answer 7

In my opinion a PERSONAL belief is a matter of fact.

As Pangel said, very well too I might add, its MY truth.

Answer 8

Beliefs supported by faith are opinions.

Beliefs supported by facts are Knowledge.

Answer 9

God has the facts.We have opinions.Christian's
beliefs must fall in line with the word of God.Remember I said Christians,not the
worlds.There will be a difference.

Answer 10

THE BIBLE GIVES STRAIGHT TRUTH AND FACTS PLAIN AND CLEAR

Noah born year 1056, Age 600 at Flood year 1656, had 350 yrs life, Gen.9: 28,29; to year 2006. Shem has 502 years life after flood, yr 2158. Gen.11:10;

Genesis 11: 10 [Says 2], 12 [says 35], 14 [says 30], 16 [ says 34], 18 [ says 30], 20 [ says 32 ]; 22 [ says 30], 24 [says 29].
So, 2 + 35 + 30 + 34 + 30 + 32 + 30 + 29 = 222 years after flood, Terah born.

Gen.11:32; Terah age 205 dies, born 222 after flood is 427 years after flood.
Gen.12:4 ; Abraham age 75, gets Promised Lsnd covenant, year 2083.
Gen.16:16; Abraham age 86, Ishmael born, 438 years aft-flood, year 2094.
Gen.21:5; Abraham age 100, Isaac born, 452 years aft-flood, year 2108.
Abraham age 150, 502 years after flood, Shem dies, year 2158, Gen.11:10;
Gen.25:7,9; Abraham age 175, dies, 527 years after flood, year 2183.
Gen.25:26; Isaac age 60, Jacob born, 512 years aft-flood, at 120 Isaac died.
Gen.25:17; Ishmael age 137 dies, 575 years aft-flood, year 2231.
Gen.35:28; Isaac age 180, dies 632 years aft-flood, year 2288. At 642 Jacob,
Gen.47:9,11; 46:27; Jacob age 130, in Rameses Egypt, 70 in family, yr 2298.
Gen.47:28; Jacob age 147 dies, 659 yrs aft-flood, year 2315, Joseph age 57.
Gen.50:26; Josepn age 110, dies. 712 years aft-flood, year 2368, 1698 B. C.
JOSEPH DIES AT THE END OF THE BOOK OF GENESIS IN TRUTH & FACT.

CAN YOU GET THIS FROM GENESIS IN ALL BIBLES THAT YOU TRY?

BEING THERE WOULD YOU HAVE PASSED YOUR INFO DOWN AS ABOVE?