Because as Terry Pratchett astutely notes in the Hogfather belief is what makes the human society possible.
We invented justice, mercy, duty, laws, money etc. They exist only because we believe in them.
Some beliefs make the world better, other ones worse, and we should try to emphasize the former and minimize the latter.
Because as Terry Pratchett astutely notes in the Hogfather belief is what makes the human society possible. We invented justice, mercy, duty, laws, money etc. They exist only because we believe in them. Some beliefs make the world better, other ones worse, and we should try to emphasize the former and minimize the latter.
Ok. So there’s benefit there as long as the believing is controlled.
Is there a general benefit or liability to believing? What do we gain and lose simply by believing, no matter what the belief?