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Writer's pictureDr Iain M Lightfoot

Belief: The Foundation of Reality


Considering Belief
The Nature of Belief

In the realm of philosophy, few topics are as provocative or foundational as belief. It’s a notion that often resides quietly in the background, shaping the contours of our world without much acknowledgment. Yet, belief is more than just a passive component of human consciousness; I propose that it’s an active force that transforms into reality itself. To say that “belief creates reality” is to affirm that our perceptions, actions, and ultimately, our entire lived experience are inextricably woven from the threads of what we hold true.


The Nature of Belief


Belief, in its simplest form, is an acceptance of something as true. However, unlike knowledge, which requires evidence, belief often transcends what we can objectively confirm. It can be an affirmation of the unseen, an internalised conviction about how the world is or should be. Indeed, belief is unique to each individual and can vary in intensity, yet it has the same underlying power: the potential to influence how we interpret our experiences and navigate our lives.


Philosophers have long debated belief’s nature. Descartes famously argued, Cogito, ergo sum, "I think, therefore I am." Yet, belief goes beyond thinking; it’s about investing in a notion with one’s whole being. For Kant, beliefs shaped one’s moral framework, guiding actions and influencing perceptions. Beliefs then, are more than ideas in our minds; they are the ground upon which we build our personal world. To a significant degree, what we believe therefore does become our reality.


Belief as a Creative Act


To understand belief as a creative act is to acknowledge that our internal convictions have external consequences. Belief is the catalyst that drives human endeavours. The faith we have in concepts, whether personal growth, justice, or freedoms, fuels our dedication to pursue them. A society that collectively believes in fairness strives toward laws and institutions that embody that value. An individual who believes in their capacity to change works tirelessly to manifest that change.


Consider the placebo effect in medicine as a striking example of belief's creative power. Studies show that patients who believe a treatment will work often experience real improvements, even when given a sugar pill. It’s not the pill but the belief in its efficacy that triggers a change. This phenomenon demonstrates how the mind, through belief, can shape physical reality. However, a doubt, no matter how small can change the outcome of the placebo. Therefore a question could be, how does one attain a full conviction of belief? To seek means to disbelieve. Being naïve to seek belief is to attain. Itself a paradox of belief.


This is a profound question that cuts to the heart of faith, knowledge, and the human desire to understand. Belief without knowing is indeed a delicate dance, one that philosophers, theologians, and thinkers have grappled with for centuries.


Belief as a Leap Beyond Knowledge


Belief and knowledge are fundamentally different in how they’re experienced. Knowledge requires evidence, facts, and a degree of certainty; it’s about reaching conclusions grounded in information. Belief, however, often requires a leap into the unknown. When you "believe," you commit to an idea, a hope, or a principle without needing proof to sustain it. This leap is sometimes called “faith”, not necessarily in a religious sense, but as an act of embracing something beyond what can be proven.


Philosophers like Kierkegaard have described belief as a “leap of faith,” a concept that illuminates the challenge of believing without knowing. To believe without certainty or evidence is to step into a space of trust, not in facts, but in possibilities and in values that resonate deeply within. Kierkegaard argued that it’s precisely the absence of knowledge that gives belief its profound meaning; when we believe without knowing, we open ourselves up to experiences that cannot be accessed by rationality alone.


The Paradox of Seeking Belief


When you actively seek to believe, you enter a paradox. Seeking implies looking for evidence or reasons, which can counteract belief itself. If we’re trying to “find proof” in order to believe, we may never reach genuine belief. Belief requires surrendering the need for certainty and instead embracing a conviction or trust without requiring validation. The more one demands proof or logic to support belief, the more one edges into the territory of knowledge, and belief then risks becoming conditional on evidence.


For example, imagine a person seeking to believe in love, but they analyse it with a need for empirical proof. The very act of questioning, doubting, or seeking evidence keeps them from fully experiencing love. It’s only when they let go of needing to “prove” love that they can truly embrace it. Belief, then, isn’t something we can necessarily "seek" in the way we seek understanding. It must be something we allow to arise naturally, perhaps as a quiet conviction that resonates deeply without logical proof.


Embracing the Unknown


In many ways, believing without knowing is about accepting the mystery of existence. Mystics and poets have long understood that some aspects of life, love, purpose, beauty, which transcend intellectual comprehension. To believe in such things is to accept that we might never fully understand them, and yet they can guide our lives in powerful ways.


This is the root of why people sometimes believe in ideas, forces, or experiences that can’t be objectively verified. When we believe in things like justice, hope, or beauty, we’re not claiming scientific certainty. We’re embracing values and ideals that give life depth and meaning, even if they cannot be logically proven.


When Belief Becomes Self-Sustaining


Belief without knowing, then, is possible when it springs from a place of personal resonance rather than external validation. It’s self-sustaining: it doesn’t rely on outside confirmation but instead on an inner alignment with a deeper sense of truth. In this way, belief can exist without knowledge because it’s less about factual certainty and more about a sense of inner commitment, almost like a vow.


In other words, belief without knowledge is less an act of intellectual conviction and more an act of the heart and spirit. It’s an invitation to live within mystery, to embrace possibilities rather than certainties, and to find value in things that may forever remain unprovable. This type of belief doesn’t demand logical validation; it rests on trust, openness, and the courage to let go of needing to "know."


So, perhaps the key is not to seek belief actively, but to allow it to take root naturally when something resonates deeply within. True belief, then, might be less a destination and more a quiet companion on the journey, one that accompanies us not because we know, but because we are willing to trust in the unfolding mystery.


The Interplay Between Reality and Belief


Our beliefs guide our choices, which in turn craft the lives we lead. When someone believes they are destined for success, they may take risks, persist through challenges, and seize opportunities that others might avoid. Their conviction creates a self-fulfilling prophecy. Through this lens, belief is not passive; it is generative. Belief is the foundation from which reality springs.


One may argue that reality exists independently of belief; that the world, as it is, is indifferent to what we believe about it. As much as reality may be objective in its nature, our interaction with it is deeply subjective. Every experience we have is filtered through the lens of our beliefs and paradigms. We perceive the world not as it is, but as we believe it to be.


Moreover, beliefs are often reinforced by experience, creating a feedback loop. If someone believes they are unworthy, they may approach the world with caution and avoid situations where they might succeed. This withdrawal leads to fewer achievements, reinforcing their initial belief. Conversely, someone who believes in their worth may embrace challenges, ultimately creating a reality that supports their belief. One's inner reality and belief are locked in an intimate dance, each continuously shaping the other.


The Philosophical Implications of Belief as Reality


If belief is indeed the foundation of reality, then we, as conscious beings, carry an extraordinary responsibility. We must examine the beliefs we hold, for they do not merely colour our perceptions; they construct the very worlds we inhabit. Every bias, prejudice, every limitation, every aspiration exists first as a belief. To change our lives, we must start by changing our beliefs, this in itself can be painful.


What, then, should we believe in? The answer lies within each of us. A philosopher might suggest that we should believe in values that uplift humanity, compassion, wisdom, justice, and love. When these values take root in our belief system, they will inevitably shape our actions, creating a reality aligned with our highest aspirations.


Belief, Choice, and Power


In the end, belief is a choice, a declaration of what we accept as real. As individuals and as a society, our beliefs have the power to transform not only ourselves but the world around us. We are architects of reality, building it with each thought and conviction. If we believe in a better world, we are already laying the foundation for its creation.


So, consider carefully what you believe. The power to shape reality lies within you, in every belief you hold, ready to transform your world.


Closing Position


I wanted to write this article on belief because investigation in the paranormal sits at the intersection of subjectivity and paradox. Paranormal experiences defy conventional logic, leaving us with phenomena that often lack concrete proof, yet resonate deeply with those who experience them. Believing in the paranormal isn’t about objective certainty; it’s an embrace of the unknown, a personal conviction that something beyond the visible world exists.


The paradox lies in how we can deeply believe in something that remains unprovable, inviting us to explore the boundaries of reality, perception, and the mysteries we’re drawn to, even without a definitive objective knowledge.

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