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Those who control our beliefs control our lives

Nakosis

Non-Binary Physicalist
Premium Member
media-manipulation.jpg

Our beliefs are powerful beyond imagination: They influence our perception of reality, which in turn influences the way we live.

How to Stop the Media from Controlling Your Mind

Who controls your beliefs?
 

Lain

Well-Known Member
media-manipulation.jpg

Our beliefs are powerful beyond imagination: They influence our perception of reality, which in turn influences the way we live.
How to Stop the Media from Controlling Your Mind

Who controls your beliefs?

A million and one persons. In no particular order: myself, all media I have ever even glimpsed, my mother, my family, random people of all sorts close to me, any news I see and read, all blogs I read, God, my Church, anyone I talk to about anything ever, my guardian angel, the demons, dead people who became influential organically or by a choice from certain people to promote them, the city planners/zoning folks, my genes, literally any and everyone involved with discovering knowledge about the world throughout all of history until now, even you yourself Nakosis.

I damn near want to say every person ever, every thing ever. All of these conspire to control and modify my reality, how I feel about things and respond to them, what thoughts are even possible for me to have, etc. They make up "the world" that I live in, think is real, etc. This all leads me to believe anything and everything that I believe about anything and everything. This will lead me to act as I do and lead the life I live.
 
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Nakosis

Non-Binary Physicalist
Premium Member
No one controls my beliefs. Many try to influence them.

Do you find yourself being cynical?

I suspect most who try to influence my belief do so from self-interest of some kind.
Perhaps not always true but more often than not.
 

exchemist

Veteran Member
Do you find yourself being cynical?

I suspect most who try to influence my belief do so from self-interest of some kind.
Perhaps not always true but more often than not.
Yes I think that really is cynical. I don't think it is true for an instant.
 

Nakosis

Non-Binary Physicalist
Premium Member
Not sure "control" is the right word? Unless I'm both controlled and deluded, which of course is possible. Likely even. Almost certain.

Some beliefs have been with me along time to where they become part of who I am.
Sometimes I can recall the source, often I can't.

I suppose this is more about current attempts at manipulating what I believe.
The older ones, I might be stuck with.
 

Nakosis

Non-Binary Physicalist
Premium Member
Yes I think that really is cynical. I don't think it is true for an instant.

So, for example, recently from the past, I've had the Church of Scientology reach out to me saying they are a new and improved church.
Ok, fine but I suspect the ulterior motive is to sell me Scientology books and services.
What do you think?
 

Nakosis

Non-Binary Physicalist
Premium Member
Nothing, as if one is brought up within science, we are taught to question anything and everything, regardless of its source.

It's is good that you do but I see the attempts is social media all of the time.
And these have to work well enough to keep people at it.

One has to be aware of all the techniques in use.
 

ecco

Veteran Member
Since this is in a religious debates forum, I suspect the correct answer would be: My pastor, my rabbi, my priest, my imam.

But I doubt you will see many people admit that.
 

exchemist

Veteran Member
So, for example, recently from the past, I've had the Church of Scientology reach out to me saying they are a new and improved church.
Ok, fine but I suspect the ulterior motive is to sell me Scientology books and services.
What do you think?
And I've had scammers try to tell me I can get lower electricity bills by plugging some gizmo into the mains.

The existence of snake oil salesmen is not evidence that most people are selling snake oil. I should have thought that was obvious.
 

Nakosis

Non-Binary Physicalist
Premium Member
And I've had scammers try to tell me I can get lower electricity bills by plugging some gizmo into the mains.

The existence of snake oil salesmen is not evidence that most people are selling snake oil. I should have thought that was obvious.

Ok, well you are more trusting than I am.
 

It Aint Necessarily So

Veteran Member
Premium Member
Who controls your beliefs?

Nobody but me.

But that's because I've learned how to evaluate an idea, and learned that that must always be done.

Do ideas enter your head merely because you heard or read them from a trusted source, or because they meet certain criteria? The first is passive, the second active.

Think of the life in the sea. The smallest creatures, called plankton, float where the current takes them. Larger ones, like fish, octopi, and lobsters, called nekton, walk, swim or slither to where they want to be. They actively choose where to be.

We are born intellectual plankton, unable to evaluate propositions for coherence and truth value, but can develop the skills to do so and take control of the process if we make that effort.
 

sun rise

The world is on fire
Premium Member
Do you find yourself being cynical?

I suspect most who try to influence my belief do so from self-interest of some kind.
Perhaps not always true but more often than not.

Yes, cynical but not universally so.

And, yes, self-interest is the motivation of most.
 

Nakosis

Non-Binary Physicalist
Premium Member
Yes, cynical but not universally so.

And, yes, self-interest is the motivation of most.

Most of the posters here on RF I'm not cynical of.
Mostly they seem authentic. Maybe a few exceptions.
Friends and most family members I can trust their motives.

Outside that it seems safer to be skeptical.
 

TransmutingSoul

Veteran Member
Premium Member
Who controls your beliefs?

I see that I am in control of what I choose to believe.

I have chosen the Message of Baha'u'llah to direct my choices.

I see that Message, inclusive of laws, are the guide for how we will choose to live in the future.

So I see I am in control of my own destiny, to that extent, as there aspects of fate that are out of our control.

Regards Tony
 

Audie

Veteran Member
Nobody but me.

But that's because I've learned how to evaluate an idea, and learned that that must always be done.

Do ideas enter your head merely because you heard or read them from a trusted source, or because they meet certain criteria? The first is passive, the second active.

Think of the life in the sea. The smallest creatures, called plankton, float where the current takes them. Larger ones, like fish, octopi, and lobsters, called nekton, walk, swim or slither to where they want to be. They actively choose where to be.

We are born intellectual plankton, unable to evaluate propositions for coherence and truth value, but can develop the skills to do so and take control of the process if we make that effort.

What are you now, oh ye who were plankton?

Me -
Im up Eurypterid level. Hoping to make it to
Labyrinthodont
 
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