Why do we cling to beliefs?

[Still Waters]

People hold beliefs for a complex variety of reasons. Some of these beliefs may be based on facts, but others may be based on ideas that can never be proved or disproven. For example, people who are against the death penalty might base their belief partly on evidence that the death penalty does not reduce violent crime (which could later be shown to be false), and partly on the notion that the death penalty violates a fundamental human right to life. The latter is an unfalsifiable belief, because it can't be changed purely by facts.

http://arstechnica.c...tened-by-facts/

[Wickian]

I'm kind of the uncaring type(Apatheist), but I suppose the hope that something resembling both continued existence and people getting their "just desserts" is a very appealing concept.

It probably comes with the whole being-smart-enough-to-know-you're-going-die-and-I-don't-know-what-happens-next level of intelligence.

[Leonardo]

While unfalsifiability may be used to defend beliefs, that is not the reason people choose to 'cling to them'. That reason is because beliefs offer simplicity. We have, ever since our remote hominin ancestors started to develop a sense of self, been plagued by issues of perceiving our universe (including our 'role' within it) as an increasingly complex system. This complexity is too overwhelming for us to maintain our perspective on, therefore we 'break it down' using the simplification offered by belief.

[BrooklynGuy]

I would rather believe in a Higher Power/Afterlife and be wrong than not believe and be right. It provides me with a great deal of comfort and greater meaning to my life. Oh and I like getting presents on Christmas.

[S2F]

Why people cling to beliefs I think is rather straightforward. Our beliefs comprise our world view, they are our default thoughts and responses that are our foundation of how we see and deal with the world around us. It seems to be an "if it ain't broke..." sort of thing. How people form their beliefs, sometimes with little or no evidence, is a little more of an enigma in my opinion.

[StarMountainKid]

Maybe we identify our beliefs with outself. Our beliefs become who we are, or who we think we are. Beliefs are comforting, and give us a feeling of security and belonging. This is false security, however.

In a way, belief becomes a hobby. Belief is something we do, not who we really are. It is a big mistake to fool ourselves into thinking we are what we do or what we believe.

[SpiritWriter]

people don't want to let go to notions they cherish deeply. They have said they meant it in front of an audience and to recant would make them look foolish perhaps, announcing such a thing is as making an oath, which can attach to the heart and become bound to that principle. It's not a bad thing. Standing firm in something may help us identify the underlying issues that would cause us to feel so strongly about such a thing. We may find it is not that thing per say but the virtues behind our passionate resolve.

Edited December 9, 2014 by SpiritWriter

[lightly]

we cling to all sorts of beliefs , not just religious or spiritual ones? Prejudices , fears , believing that the Monkees were a real band, whatever it is needn't be based in fact? I think we cling to some beliefs because we choose to and others because we can't help it.

[Empty Garden]

Why people cling to beliefs I think is rather straightforward. Our beliefs comprise our world view, they are our default thoughts and responses that are our foundation of how we see and deal with the world around us. It seems to be an "if it ain't broke..." sort of thing. How people form their beliefs, sometimes with little or no evidence, is a little more of an enigma in my opinion.

I would agree with that--our beliefs constitute our worldview, both on the individual level and on the sociological level.

If we believe as a country that our government pursues justice and good, and then discover that our government actually tortures people, our worldview is greatly compromised. We experience a collective cognitive dissonance.

Rational beliefs are a good thing I suppose, irrational beliefs amount to no more than self delusion. Best to stay in touch with reality, no matter how unpleasant it might be.

Edited December 10, 2014 by Empty Garden

[Drayno]

"Then came human beings; they wanted to cling, but there was nothing to cling to." - Albert Camus

Humans need something to believe in, otherwise we'll take our own lives from the pointlessness.

Edited December 11, 2014 by Drayno

[Empty Garden]

Could Camus be wrong? Is it possible that what some see as a pointless existence is very much the opposite?

[StarMountainKid]

"Then came human beings; they wanted to cling, but there was nothing to cling to." - Albert Camus

Humans need something to believe in, otherwise we'll take our own lives from the pointlessness.

There is nothing to cling to except what we imagine to cling to, in my opinion. "I haven't committed suicide this morning because..." However we may finish this sentence, what we write will be some subjective personal reason, and never some absolute reason given to us by existence itself.

[Debra2304]

We cling to beliefs because we do not want to think about the alternatives. We choose what we want to believe, and from one person to another, intrepretations are different. Where is one reality identical? I can't even get four people to agree on what meal to have for dinner? Although, if I tell them what they are having for dinner and eat it or starve, they are fine?

[jmccr8]

I believe that things change,and that I adapt to the change.

jmccr8

[Drayno]

Could Camus be wrong? Is it possible that what some see as a pointless existence is very much the opposite?

It could very well be the opposite.

A guy by the name of William James believed you have genuine things, such as beliefs that come from your passion; love, morals, religion.

Some people can make reality into whatever they want.

[Drayno]

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There is nothing to cling to except what we imagine to cling to, in my opinion. "I haven't committed suicide this morning because..." However we may finish this sentence, what we write will be some subjective personal reason, and never some absolute reason given to us by existence itself.

The thing-in itself, my friend!

There is only but what we imagine, in this life.

[karmakazi]

You could prove to a hoarder that an expired can of food could make them horribly ill with botulism, but they will still cling to their belief it is okay to eat so long as the can has not ballooned, because they have a deep seated fear about wasting/throwing away something they believe to be usable. Which, often, is really a fear of death or being destitute or even loss of memories tied to the object.

Whether or not it can be proven is irrelevant, a person determined to cling to something will cling, despite the facts, unless you miraculously get through to them.

[Frank Merton]

It can be helpful to distinguish between opinions and beliefs. Opinions are things we learn intellectually and hold tentatively, although sometimes we are so sure they are true as to be willing to wager on them

Beliefs, on the other hand, are things we "know" are true but never actually learned, at least in our memory. They are obtained by being indoctrinated -- usually as children before our skeptical abilities are mature. We are not really consciously aware of their presence -- we just assume they are true much as we assume the sofa is "there" when we sit on it without looking.

When an opinion is questioned, we ask for the evidence: when a belief is questioned we think the questioner must be nuts or perverted or lacking in some way, to question something so fundamental.

We have a strong desire (it is almost certainly an instinct evolved for group cohesion in primitive situations) to believe what the community believes and what we grew up believing. This is powerful. During the "rebellious" phase of young adulthood, when we are establishing our independence, aspects of the cultural environment may bring these beliefs into doubt, and even lead to their being abandoned, but not without a lot of turmoil and angst and fear and guilt. As often as not after a few years of this sort of emotional pain the person decides "enough" and goes back to believing. The instinct then rewards the person for doing this with joy and peace (testimonials in religious meetings show what is going on pretty well).

After this the believer is pretty much locked in and will never allow doubts again, no matter how irrational the actual belief may be shown to be.

[+Sherapy]

It can be helpful to distinguish between opinions and beliefs. Opinions are things we learn intellectually and hold tentatively, although sometimes we are so sure they are true as to be willing to wager on them

Beliefs, on the other hand, are things we "know" are true but never actually learned, at least in our memory. They are obtained by being indoctrinated -- usually as children before our skeptical abilities are mature. We are not really consciously aware of their presence -- we just assume they are true much as we assume the sofa is "there" when we sit on it without looking.

When an opinion is questioned, we ask for the evidence: when a belief is questioned we think the questioner must be nuts or perverted or lacking in some way, to question something so fundamental.

We have a strong desire (it is almost certainly an instinct evolved for group cohesion in primitive situations) to believe what the community believes and what we grew up believing. This is powerful. During the "rebellious" phase of young adulthood, when we are establishing our independence, aspects of the cultural environment may bring these beliefs into doubt, and even lead to their being abandoned, but not without a lot of turmoil and angst and fear and guilt. As often as not after a few years of this sort of emotional pain the person decides "enough" and goes back to believing. The instinct then rewards the person for doing this with joy and peace (testimonials in religious meetings show what is going on pretty well).

After this the believer is pretty much locked in and will never allow doubts again, no matter how irrational the actual belief may be shown to be.

Indeed, this is what can happen, and does. Well meaning parents do not know how to let go, and can inadvertently prevent growth in this area. My youngest recently told a friend of his who is 18 and doesn't agree with many things that her parents think for her, suggested that she needs to find her voice and he told her be prepared to accept that not everyone will agree with her and even actively dissuade her. He told her that part of maturity is figuring out who your are and standing in that. In a nut shell he told her she needed to grow a pair.

[Lilly]

Life can be very, very difficult. IMO people cling to beliefs because that's often all they have. Like a drowning person they will all grasp onto anything that promises them the ability to float. Being able to muster the strength to swim to shore is something many simply can't find. Yet, being able to swim the only thing that will actually save us. The ability think rationally (see reality for what it is) and then formulate a life plan is essential for a life well lived.

[sunpaw]

Belief is connected with emotion, information alone often can't outweigh the connected emotion. If so (change), a person needs to be open, willing to let go/face the unknown and a much more information is needed or a new belief is set in with a strong(er) emotion.

Belief and 'clinging' doesn't have be 'negative'. A belief in change for the better can be strong even though one can't see a solution. Hope.

Belief in 'good in people' can be beneficial but also can hurt the believer - when one ignores there are bad people, not willing or able to change for the good.

[XenoFish]

Because some beliefs give comfort and security in a world where there truly is none. The reason religions tend to have power is because of the fear of death. They inspire hope when no hope is known.

[Hawken]

Since childhood we've been conditioned by ideologies from certain establishments such as

Science, Religion, Government, Universities even our Parents that this is the way the world works.

But when we get older, some us begin to question those beliefs after taking a good hard look at it

regardless of what establishments are telling us. But we still somewhat cling to it to a degree because

it was implanted in us over our lives and it's hard to change. Kind of like a smoker trying to quit.

[Frank Merton]

The smoker trying to quit wants to quit; the believer with some absurdity to believe does not want to quit believing -- hence the emotional trouble when one realizes a belief is nonsense. ("Cognitive dissonance").

[SpiritWriter]

I believe that things change,and that I adapt to the change.

jmccr8

I think its good for us to change as individuals, for the purpose of becoming better, more well rounded and more true to ourselves, but we shouldn't change just because things are changing around us. In a certain regard we should stay with the times, but on another note we should be individuals rather than crowd followers. Not every popular belief is a good one and some outdated ones had their reasons. There may be things that we should actually be clinging to.

Edited December 14, 2014 by SpiritWriter