Why is a belief system developed? This is not the subject of the post.
Should you be concerned if your belief system is based on reality and rationality? This post assumes that a belief system based on reality should be followed. Essentially, belief systems based on fiction and irrationality need to be discarded.
Should you change your beliefs when you find that it's not based on reality and/or it's irrational? Yes. (A consequence of 2nd point)
Now you could develop your own belief system either from scratch or by modifying the existing "standard" systems. The other choice would be to follow a system with nothing else than faith(read blindly). Based on the previous statements, such a system is better not followed. Because faith is irrational.
I want to narrow down the content post to the specific point of faith-based "standard" systems. I think an existing "standard" system is much like an algorithm.
What is the problem with faith-based algorithms? Often, there are no facts and no logical reasoning as to why follow them. Some algorithms define strict rules and these rules must be enforced to the fullest extent.The algorithm inherently asks the user to trust it. In fact, the issue becomes severe, when the fundamental rule of the algorithm is to trust it. Why is that an issue? Because when the first rule is to trust it and the second rule is to follow the rules fully, the user is left with no other choice but to stay in the system.
Let us define an optimization problem where the user has a lot of algorithms (points) to choose from and he has to find the optimum one (local or global optima). The optimum algorithm is defined as the one that best improves the life of the user and hence necessarily be based on reality and facts. The basic tenet of optimization is to find a local optima first and then make sure that you (at the very least) try to find the global optima. When the faith-based strict algorithm is the first point the user finds, the algorithm per se makes it impossible for user to try to find a global optima or any optima for that matter because of two things - 1. It restricts the user to search for any other points. 2. By default, the algorithm cannot be questioned and therefore it can never be sure if the point is an optima in the first place.
Faith-based belief system is probably the most brilliant of algorithms. It employs an extremely smart self-defense strategy which completely prevents the un-installation (removing from the human's mind) of the algorithm (belief system) and furthermore, it prevents the user from ever installing (believing) another algorithm (belief system). Thereby, it puts forward the best defense and completely eradicates the possibility to switch algorithms based on performance. This is probably the most frustrating optimization problem ever encountered. Once installed, never removed. Once believed never changed.
If this happens in a computer, the best option would be to start it in safe-mode and delete the damn thing. Now, if only humans had a safe-mode option... And in extreme cases, re-install the operating system itself. Rarely possible in humans without completely destroying the brain. Makes me think, computers are less vulnerable than human brains.
In a larger context, the more people that follow faith-based belief systems, more the herd-mentality (groupthink, bandwagon effect and so on.) If and just "if" the faith-based belief system was developed for political reasons, as a means to control and take advantage of people, then the groupthink would lead to disaster for the mankind. What about the ones who developed it for self-centered political reasons? They would be winning a lottery!
Political strategies relying on mind control are the most effective ones out there. And developing and propagating an irrational faith-based belief system is the first step to complete mind control of mankind. What about people who notice this, discard and follow other belief systems? Now, that's a problem since the person doesn't even care about the belief system in the first place. This would be extremely unwelcoming to the persons who developed faith-based belief systems with the intention of gaining absolute control of mankind. Well, there are certain faith-based that have smartly solved this problem. The solution: Aggressively oppress these "rebels" by either isolation (jails) or total eradication (capital punishment).
Should you be concerned if your belief system is based on reality and rationality? This post assumes that a belief system based on reality should be followed. Essentially, belief systems based on fiction and irrationality need to be discarded.
Should you change your beliefs when you find that it's not based on reality and/or it's irrational? Yes. (A consequence of 2nd point)
Now you could develop your own belief system either from scratch or by modifying the existing "standard" systems. The other choice would be to follow a system with nothing else than faith(read blindly). Based on the previous statements, such a system is better not followed. Because faith is irrational.
I want to narrow down the content post to the specific point of faith-based "standard" systems. I think an existing "standard" system is much like an algorithm.
What is the problem with faith-based algorithms? Often, there are no facts and no logical reasoning as to why follow them. Some algorithms define strict rules and these rules must be enforced to the fullest extent.The algorithm inherently asks the user to trust it. In fact, the issue becomes severe, when the fundamental rule of the algorithm is to trust it. Why is that an issue? Because when the first rule is to trust it and the second rule is to follow the rules fully, the user is left with no other choice but to stay in the system.
Let us define an optimization problem where the user has a lot of algorithms (points) to choose from and he has to find the optimum one (local or global optima). The optimum algorithm is defined as the one that best improves the life of the user and hence necessarily be based on reality and facts. The basic tenet of optimization is to find a local optima first and then make sure that you (at the very least) try to find the global optima. When the faith-based strict algorithm is the first point the user finds, the algorithm per se makes it impossible for user to try to find a global optima or any optima for that matter because of two things - 1. It restricts the user to search for any other points. 2. By default, the algorithm cannot be questioned and therefore it can never be sure if the point is an optima in the first place.
Faith-based belief system is probably the most brilliant of algorithms. It employs an extremely smart self-defense strategy which completely prevents the un-installation (removing from the human's mind) of the algorithm (belief system) and furthermore, it prevents the user from ever installing (believing) another algorithm (belief system). Thereby, it puts forward the best defense and completely eradicates the possibility to switch algorithms based on performance. This is probably the most frustrating optimization problem ever encountered. Once installed, never removed. Once believed never changed.
If this happens in a computer, the best option would be to start it in safe-mode and delete the damn thing. Now, if only humans had a safe-mode option... And in extreme cases, re-install the operating system itself. Rarely possible in humans without completely destroying the brain. Makes me think, computers are less vulnerable than human brains.
In a larger context, the more people that follow faith-based belief systems, more the herd-mentality (groupthink, bandwagon effect and so on.) If and just "if" the faith-based belief system was developed for political reasons, as a means to control and take advantage of people, then the groupthink would lead to disaster for the mankind. What about the ones who developed it for self-centered political reasons? They would be winning a lottery!
Political strategies relying on mind control are the most effective ones out there. And developing and propagating an irrational faith-based belief system is the first step to complete mind control of mankind. What about people who notice this, discard and follow other belief systems? Now, that's a problem since the person doesn't even care about the belief system in the first place. This would be extremely unwelcoming to the persons who developed faith-based belief systems with the intention of gaining absolute control of mankind. Well, there are certain faith-based that have smartly solved this problem. The solution: Aggressively oppress these "rebels" by either isolation (jails) or total eradication (capital punishment).
Stone the rebels! To death!!Smart, isn't it?
