Do you decide your beliefs, or do they decide you?

Positive beliefs are based on how you happen to the world in ways you choose.

Negative beliefs are based how the world happens to you in ways you don’t choose.

It’s the classic argument of… Seeing is believing vs. Believing is seeing.

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Simulation · 31-35

This question kind of reminds me of those ‘Soviet Russia’ jokes. Aka “In Soviet Russia you don’t pick beliefs. The beliefs pick you.” lol

But joking aside. There’s probably some interaction between innate disposition and the environment one grows up in that shapes beliefs. The environment exposes one to opportunities specific to the environment. The individual chooses the opportunity that aligns with their innate disposition.

Reject · 31-35, M

@Simulation Lol. True. Nature and nurture play a part in the cultivation of an individuals beliefs, but would you say it’s possible to find those who have an innate disposition so powerful that it flies in the face of any kind of environment they’re presented with?

Simulation · 31-35

@Reject Those individuals will be in the very small minority. They would need to have a special kind of disposition that makes them hyper-independent and immune to social pressures no matter how strong.

Reject · 31-35, M

@Simulation I agree. It’s certainly not common, but I do believe that those few are the ones capable of deciding their beliefs instead of being decided by them.

Simulation · 31-35

@Reject Would you consider yourself to be one of those individuals? (Because they are so rare, they would have a hard time finding acceptance - your username "Reject" hints at this)

Reject · 31-35, M

@Simulation I certainly try to be! But it’s not easy and I’m not always successful. I feel as though it goes against human nature. The reason I’m a reject does factor into it though.