To a very small degree our sense processes - vision, hearing, touch, etc. - may be shaped or altered by our beliefs. Overwhelmingly, though, they're informed by - and reflect more or less accurately - the physical universe, which is NOT shaped by our beliefs.
Our beliefs do affect our understanding of the world, but of course our beliefs ARE our understanding of the world. In general they don't change, to any great degree, our direct physical experience of the world.
Originally posted by whodeyI think that the more accurate our belief system is the more accurate our knowledge and understanding of reality becomes.
"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen; not only because I see it but because by it I see everything else"
-C.S. Lewis
After reading this quote I thought of one question. Is our reality shaped by our beliefs?
Originally posted by whodeyI think that the more accurate our knowledge and understanding of reality becomes the more accurate our belief system becomes.
"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen; not only because I see it but because by it I see everything else"
-C.S. Lewis
After reading this quote I thought of one question. Is our reality shaped by our beliefs?
Originally posted by snowinscotlandAgreed, the other way round is madness. If we allowed out beliefs to arbitrate our reality we'd be able to justify any action at all and be unable to say anything objective about the world. That is never going to work. It wouldn't surprise me if several of the more ardent theists here thought it would though.
I think that the more accurate our knowledge and understanding of reality becomes the more accurate our belief system becomes.
Originally posted by whodeyYour perception of reality is obviously shaped by your beliefs. But it doesn't mean that perception is accurate.
"I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen; not only because I see it but because by it I see everything else"
-C.S. Lewis
After reading this quote I thought of one question. Is our reality shaped by our beliefs?
Originally posted by StarrmanOnly if what you believe in isn't true.
Agreed, the other way round is madness. If we allowed out beliefs to arbitrate our reality we'd be able to justify any action at all and be unable to say anything objective about the world. That is never going to work. It wouldn't surprise me if several of the more ardent theists here thought it would though.
But I agree with you. We should judge reality objectively in order to have an accurate belief system.
But objective truth was here before we were. So why on earth do we not reach the same conclusions about the existence of God?
Originally posted by josephwIt's a semantic issue. Depending on your philosophical framework, the term "truth" implies meaning. But the physical reality of the universe may simply exist, as fact, without meaning.
"Reality exists independent from our perception."
Isn't that called objective truth?
Originally posted by darthmix"But the physical reality of the universe may simply exist, as fact, without meaning."
It's a semantic issue. Depending on your philosophical framework, the term "truth" implies meaning. But the physical reality of the universe may simply exist, as fact, without meaning.
Not if it were created.