The believing mind, what a magnificence yet dangerous force in human society. For most people, without the concept of belief, life would simply be incomplete, and inconsequential. What I aim to layout is the beauty of reality with complete objectivity and unwavering bluntness. What I’ve always found quite interesting is the diversity of belief systems across the world and how people interact with these beliefs. In the general sense of the word belief is the attitude or better yet the concept that something is true with no fundamental evidence to substantiate its claim.
More often than not the concept of belief is paired with religion. This concept takes form when stories that are told throughout the religious text such as the story of Noah in the Abrahamic texts are taken as literal history. When these stories are excepted as actual history, the believing mind takes control and the concept can become quite dangerous. One of the more pure examples of the danger of the believing mind is the dismissal of scientific truths because of the conflicting ideas of religious belief. The practicality towards the natural world is extremely low when the devote believer is presented evidence of how life began on earth or climate change.
Why do we believe, is it a fundamental human evolutionary concept or something more recent? According to studies done by the Centre for Advances in Behavioral Science and neuroscientist at Coventry University suggest that religious beliefs are not linked to intuition or rational thinking. What was concluded from the studied was that these beliefs are linked to upbringing and a socio-cultural process.[1] What this seeks to explain is that if a Christian in Alabama believes that Christianity is better than Islam that’s based on his upbringing; because if that same child was raised in Iraq than his views of Christianity would coincide with his views of Islam at the present.
I would like to say that nonliteral religious beliefs can exist harmoniously with the advancements brought about by today's technological and scientific societies. This vision is all but a dream as we wittiness religious extremist during 9/11 who would inflict bodily harm to themselves or others over what they believe. In the less extreme sense of taking one's life, the religious tradition of a person may prevent one's children from receiving proper medical care such as the Measles outbreak in Brooklyn’s Orthodox Jewish community. This community believes in the ever-growing conspiracy theories that vaccines cause autism. [2] The ideals of ultra-religious communities such as Brooklyn’s Orthodox Jewish community have now allowed measles to make a comeback affecting the people around them.
In conclusion, the dangers of the believing mind can be monumental. Logical thinking is subdued to a minor level in which one can act upon religious views without the application of critical thinking. I find it perplexing as we currently observe the largest of the worlds rainforest burn while individuals utter “we need not to concern ourselves because this is Gods plan”, “or pray and ask for it to stop that's all we can do.” This is a serious issue that is being downplayed by religious thought. What is thought as harmless religious statements are actually the formation of the dangerous believing mind?
1. Coventry University. "Why do we believe in gods? Religious belief 'not linked to intuition or rational thinking': The study challenges a growing trend that has attempted to show that believing in the supernatural is something that comes to us 'naturally' or intuitively." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 8 November 2017. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/11/171108092429.htm>.
2. Frost, Mary “Measles outbreak in Brooklyn’s Orthodox Jewish areas continues to climb.” Brooklyn Daily Eagle. https://brooklyneagle.com/articles/2018/12/13/measles-outbreak-in-brooklyns-orthodox-jewish-areas-continues-to-climb/
