On Belief

Belief is an interesting word.

Lately I have used it in several posts — and because of them, on Wednesday I have been invited on the radio to talk about the same thing — about belief. In people’s comments on the posts, I see that different people understand the word “belief” quite differently. Therefore, it is probably worth formulating what I actually mean when using this word.

The key here is direct experience. The word “know” is applicable only to what is in my direct, unmediated experience. For everything else, a more appropriate word would be “believe.” To believe means to accept as true something that I do not know. Something that is not in my direct experience. I do not know how it is, but I accept that it is this way — this is the sense in which I use the word “belief.”

Consequently, in my usage, the word “belief” does not apply only to religion or church — it applies to every everyday situation in which we act but about which we have no direct experience.

For example — at the grocery store, when buying milk, I pick up an opaque cardboard carton on which it says “milk.” Strictly speaking, I do not know whether the carton actually contains milk — I BELIEVE that it is milk. Whether it really is milk, I will find out the moment I open the carton and taste what is inside. But until that moment, if someone asks me — did I buy milk — I will answer “yes.” And this answer will be based on my belief.

In exactly the same way, crossing the street at a traffic light — I believe that the cars will stop. Going to the doctor — I believe that the doctor is qualified and will help me. And so on. Here one can see that there is no difference — believing that the carton contains milk, or that God is in the heavens. In both cases I have not verified it, and I rely on the assumption that my thought is true.

In everyday life we use many other words to designate what is not accessible through direct experience: I think, I consider, I trust, I assume, I allow — it seems to me, my opinion is… and depending on the context, these nuances can be significant. But the common thread is one — I do not know. But if, not knowing, being without my own personal direct experience regarding a specific thing, I claim that it is so — then that is belief.

Confusion arises from the fact that we are accustomed to trusting our thinking process very much. And, although thinking itself is within our direct experience, the content of thoughts is always about something else — about memories, about imagination, about conclusions, connections, and so on, not about direct experience. Therefore, if I say “I know” regarding something that has been thought up (deduced, analyzed, examined), then — it would not really be quite correct.

Belief is significant, and without it, life is difficult. It is not impossible, but without special preparation and personal maturity, it would indeed be very difficult. Belief (trust) is also essential for the normal functioning of any society, for any relationships, and the higher the level of this trust, the healthier the society. Therefore, believing is necessary and good. At the same time, it is also essential not to be naive and not to believe absolutely everything that comes along. A certain skepticism, suspicion, caution is also quite useful. Exaggerations in either direction make life much more difficult and even reduce the chances of survival.

But, in my opinion, it is essential for each person to distinguish what we truly know from what we (merely) believe. To see knowledge as knowledge and belief as belief, and not to mix the two.

Nor is it the case that only these two alternatives exist — to know or to believe. Each of us also has the option of simply acknowledging that I do not know. This position is the most honest, because not knowing allows one to find out, while belief, though it provides peace and security, can slow down inquiry and the discovery of truth. But acknowledging “I do not know” — that also requires a certain courage, maturity. It is easier to believe.

p.s. Once upon a time, a journalist asked Jung whether he believed in God as a child and whether he still believes. Jung’s answer is worth watching. The video is not long.

🙂