[evercoal]

How to determine wether or not you truly believe something?

[seeker33]

That's a tough question. Often I've heard that belief is not so much about emotions, but rather about willpower.
So many days you can't feel the belief in your heart, but you still use your will and force yourself to act as if you believed. That's how many great saints believed and this is also the way most believers do. Because it's impossible to feel it emotionally everyday of your life. Emotions change like weather.

[WishfulThinker66]

I think you need to experience and find out about as many belief systems as you can and make an educated choice. Choosing to believe something simply because it is what you were told to believe seems rather blind and closed minded to me. Be curious and question. You might discover a whole new and enriching world out there. Then again, the end of your journey might bring you solidly back to the beginning again.

I am the daughter of a preacher yet was encouraged to find my own path.

[wolfgaze]

Originally Posted by evercoal

How to determine wether or not you truly believe something?

Your thread title says 'false beliefs', which upon reading, made me think this thread was going to be about believing something that ultimately isn't true/accurate...

However your question seems to be about the testing the conviction of your beliefs?

Can you clarify what it is that you are asking, please?

[mote.of.soul]

Yes, this might be about having conviction in your beliefs. One way to see if you truly believe it or not, is to say to yourself, 'would I bet $50,000 on this belief being true?' or, 'would I stake my very life on my belief being true?" The ultimate test. Contemplate that for a minute.

[CANDC]

Whether I believe in walking or not, if I walk without falling it is better for me than walking and falling all the time. What we believe may be the limits of what we can see not the freedom we seek.

Beginners mind gives us the chance to see with fresh eyes in each moment.

That’s a difficult question. I think part of faith is deciding to believe in something because you feel it’s truth even if you don’t know it with ultimate certainty.
I belive in questioning belief systems and finding what connects with you instead of blindly following something because someone told you to.

[WishfulThinker66]

Of course some of the litmus tests would be to ask yourself how does such belief affect your life? Does it enrich it or make things difficult. Can you stand behind it? Can you articulate an explanation of it to others?

I am not one for faith in something merely because I want to believe it. There needs to be at least an ounce of truth and thought.

For example, to believe the Earth is flat or that climate change does not exist would be ridiculous considering the unquestionable facts that say otherwise.

Being skeptical is healthy. As human beings it is our lot in life to question and think. Use this gift.

[ArchieAus]

If there is no solid evidence then it's called faith . To have faith when there is evidence to the contrary would be blind faith . Either way , if you believe what harm does it do ? It could help you through life's struggles ...and in the end , if your wrong what do you lose ? , pretty much nothing . I envy those that have faith . I can't do it myself . Logic is telling me otherwise . But if it is all true and I'm wrong and you see me on the other side trying to talk my way into the big house , put a good word in for me .

[yogurtssss]

seek it...........