Exploring the Definition of Belief

The definition of belief can take on variables that ultimately lead down different paths that may resolve into many significant meanings.

Belief is ubiquitous within its confines that can cause confusion when it comes to the semantics of the term itself.

By definition, belief comes in two common forms. One is with objectivity and the other subjective. An object is defined as something that has shape and form or alternatively can be understood as something of use or purpose.

Firstly, is to tackle the objective definition in terms of what one may believe and why. The famous saying, 'I will believe it, when I see it' is the common phrase when doubting something, but when we see it with our own eyes, the doubt or misunderstanding changes to something that is tangible. This means that what we understand or discern is a fact within objective parameters.

The obtained knowledge can be a positive or negative assertion from a repeatable occurrence that we see, taste, hear, smell or touch. This gives credence to the statement, 'without a doubt.' This leads to proof that establishes something as truth. The state of the matter is concluded because of the truth of the matter. A rational conclusion would lead to a belief without a doubt of the matter in question.

What a lot of debates and arguments are on is the 'state of the matter.' Pardon the pun.

I see trees of green, red roses too

I see them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself what a wonderful world.

I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
And I think to myself what a wonderful world.

The colours of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do
They're really saying I love you.

I hear babies crying, I watch them grow
They'll learn much more than I'll never know
And I think to myself what a wonderful world
Yes I think to myself what a wonderful world

Bob Thiele, George David Weiss

I can see

Trees and grass,

The sun and sky;

I can taste

Chocolate ice cream,

Apple pie;

I can hear

Music, laughter,

Words you said;

I can smell

Perfume, flowers,

Baking bread;

I can touch

Silk and velvet,

A baby's skin;

What a wonderful

World I'm in!

Eva Grant

Secondly, to believe something subjectively takes on a quite different perspective. It is the belief in something that may not be seen, proven or disproved. This is a belief in something that we cannot absolutely prove. This is where the term faith takes an active role in a belief. This is a belief that there is a higher knowledge, purpose or a God that may give one a reason or purpose for living. Although there is no tangibility, the result of this subjective faith may give meaning, purpose, perspective and resolve to the mysteries of life.

Faith in a God could be considered this way:

"Although we cannot absolutely prove God's existence, He absolutely proves Himself to us apart from our own free will to believe in the evidence of Him."

To believe is to be confident that something does exist. To exist in essence is to believe that something has being. Being is something that is made of matter or the essence of something that is not.

What we believe in will reveal our purpose or lack of it. Purpose will give credence and loyalty to a belief. As we walk through life, the paradigms of our beliefs are often put to the test and will be challenged by others. The trust and confidence in our belief system may become stronger or weaker depending on the internal and external influences put upon it.

How can we be assured that what we believe in is actually valid and true?

We can believe in only the existing ideas as only having validity or be open to seeking purpose beyond them. Without real tangible proof, faith must enter into a belief system. Faith comes from personal experiences and the conviction of the belief comes from pondering and reasoning it out in our minds. This is where credence is given to a certain belief system. Many stake their own claim, stance or influence on it.

Certainly, if the mind accepts it and is transformed by that belief, can it stay relevant to an opposing perspective?

The battle of belief is about the credibility of it. This credit comes from the perceptions of man through personal experience. One can give credit to a belief as trustworthy and notable or not. Although something may seem trustworthy, it is only one factor of many factors to be weighed out.

Our belief system often has a reliance on something other than our own selves. If one had no reliance on anything, that person would be quite unique and unreliable. Reliance in essence is trusting in the real original tangible source of the belief to attain the objective.

If there is no source, how can there be objectivity?

What we ultimately encounter in life will bring out our own objective belief of who we really are. It encompasses our own reality as it appears or thought to be. Belief is attained in what we observe and comprehend, what we observe and don’t comprehend and what we don’t observe, but comprehend.

Belief simply put is limited to the confines we put or will change as we put it to the test.

For example, one may want to believe in something more, but prejudice and bias may hinder them from seeing the truth.

What is the causation of belief when physicalism construes, sciences are insolent toward each other and the phenomenal and supernatural are minimized?

There is so much ambiguity in the very word of belief.

Belief could be considered having faith or not in something objective or not.