Your core beliefs - how strong are they? (Jesus Christ, Latter-Day Saints)

[Halcyon]

This stems from the "Are you critical of your beliefs" thread.

YmirGF explained how he analyses his beliefs for contradictions and things that make no sense, then he strips them from his belief system leaving only those he is 99.99% sure about. His core beliefs.

I believe I do a similar thing, I constantly think about philosophical and theological principles, turning them over in my mind for weeks attempting to determine if there is any sense to them. After a while i might find a contradiction to common sense and the whole basis of the thought collapses in front of me - leaving truth.

I have a few core beliefs; the concept of God as The One, the Source of all things. Also, the idea that there is no self, no unchanging "me".
These two are linked via the idea of Gnosis or Enlightenment, when we realise there is no self - only The One.
On these beliefs i am unshakeable - nothing anyone can say will sway me, because they stem from a deep personal understanding, its not something i've been told but something i've discovered and experienced (to a degree) for myself.

What are your core beliefs? What are you 99.99% certain and more importantly - why are you that certain?

Also, can you call something a belief until you are 99.99% certain?

[Buttons*]

I believe what I believe because it makes sense to me. I dont think it's "right" by any stretch of the imagination. It's also a feeling I get, that I dont have in anything else. I live for that feeling...

[Aqualung]

That God is my Father in heaven, that Jesus Chrsit atoned for my sins, that Joseph Smith was a true prophet, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the restoration of Jesus Christ's gospel on the earth (ie, it is the only church with the fullness of the gospel). I believe these because of prayer and the manisfestion of that truth that I received after prayer.

[lunamoth]

My core belief is that there is God and He loves us (all of us). 100% certain of this.

All the details I hold firmly but gently, like a living dove in my hands.

Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief!

peace,
lunamoth

[Green Gaia]

My most basic core belief: That we will create of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all: Heaven on Earth. I believe in this 100%.

[Master Vigil]

My most basic core belief...

Oneness. I am different than you, but we are still human. Human's are different than dogs, but are still animals. Animals are different than plants, but still alive. Living things are different than non-living things, but are all still part of the universe. All is one.

This oneness I call Tao.

[anders]

Core beliefs? Well, I was born to enjoy myself while not harmng anybody/anything else. There's no suprahuman entity that will judge my adhering or not to that set of beliefs. Sufficient for me.

[Scarlett Wampus]

I'm not sure what my core beliefs are. I keep flipping between Buddhist/Taoist beliefs and a kind of transcendent version of Nietzsche's philosophy. There are probably things I strongly believe that I'm not even aware of as well.

Apart from the above there are two things I'm starting to believe quite strongly of late: -

1) That there may be a kind of universal God-like thing, but it is impossible for our minds to comprehend it directly so we resort to 'metaphors for God'.
2) That compassion is the most socially cohesive and enabling force we know, but the entire world suffers from a deficit.

[Buttons*]

Originally Posted by Halcyon

What are your core beliefs? What are you 99.99% certain and more importantly - why are you that certain?

Also, can you call something a belief until you are 99.99% certain?

Okay, so before, i gave a really ****** answer, so as Paul requested, i'll put up a better and more drawn out answer....
I didnt think it was worth it to simply edit the post, i'd rather just start over:

My core beliefs: Okay, there are the Gods of mythology. Gods like Silence, Barbelo, Sophia... the luminaries, and all that fun stuff. Those Gods, to me, are basic principles of thought personafied. I think that by reaching inside, meditating, whatever one would like to call it, people have the power to find the silence inside them which guides them to good things. (much like a consience) I dont think God is a person waiting on the other side of the fence, or a man living up in the clouds. I think God/gnosis is a feeling; any feeling of complete understanding/thought/love/deepness/emotion one could hope to grasp. The feelings that i've had resembling that, only last for an instant, and i think that's what gets me to cry. I dont think i could ever hope to achieve gnosis in this lifetime, i'm too selfish to give up the life i know. I think if i were truly a follower of the faith i'd be the perfect person I know i could be.

To attain gnosis is everyone's goal, as far as gnostics goes. You know this, I know. I think that going back to silence would give everyone ultimate peace and unconditional love. Having the soul ascend through seven powers of wrath would give us this quality, in my opinion. I havent ascended at all, because I still get jealous, I'm still ignorant, and i still desire. (to name a few) When I read the texts, and my soul/spirit thingy (i know there's a better word for it...i just cant think of it) feels like its on fire, I get the urge to cry, or to let everyone know what i'm feeling for that instant. Sometimes, I feel that no one else would ever experience the things I do, and it saddens me. I know you're thinking i'm nuts, or that i'm lying, but in those moments, i wouldnt mind dying so other people could understand like I do. Even if my understanding is a bit on the low side. There are some moments when everything is quiet inside, and my head is empty and full at the same time. I have instances when I completely understand the meaning of everything written down in the texts, no footnotes needed, and everything is clear. The love of Sophia guides me to different places on the page, and i experience undescribible feelings. I feel everything and nothing at the same time... its really screwy... (*sigh* Happy Paul, are you?)

I'm certian that I believe what I do because of those feelings I get. I dont need proof or a reason, I just do. What is written down makes sense to me. I dont think what I feel is right for everyone... but oh well...

[Mike182]

i am very secure in my core beliefs

did you want explanations of peoples core beliefs?