# What Do You Believe is True Even Though You Cannot Prove It? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 6, 2005, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-believe-is-true-even-though-you-cannot-prove-it/283480 "2005-01-06T23:52:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-believe-is-true-even-though-you-cannot-prove-it/283480/41 "2005-01-07T08:06:50Z")
I believe that the interval between zero and one is equal to the interval between one and two, but I couldn’t prove it if you held a gun to my head, and offered me unlimited Elixer of Life\* if I could do it. (carrot and stick) I believe in a merciful God. I believe in the magic smoke theory of electronics. I believe, simultaneously, in the fallen nature of humanity; and that grace, compassion, or simple humanity is one of the most common traits in the world. I believe that there are honest politicians out there. Somewhere. I believe that pillows are responsible for more deaths through history than guns. I believe that living in a ‘true non-representative democracy’ (ie: one where **all** decisions of any importance were voted on by the population at large.) would be Hell on Earth. I believe the evolutionary committee made a grave error in electing against keeping the prehensile tail. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-believe-is-true-even-though-you-cannot-prove-it/283480/42 "2005-01-07T08:16:12Z")
That nearly everyone is possessed of a conscience and the continual desire to do the right thing, and that their failure to do so is due to unconsciousness of the nature of their acts provoked by belief in a higher cause, their failure to recognize others as human, or their state of denial of the consequences of their acts. That the number of people who actually can gratuitously act in such a way as to ruin the lives of others while completely aware of the nature and consequences of their acts is very low. That for most of us, behaving in an ethical fashion from day to day is simply an instinct, which is what allows us to live in any proximity to each other. That society nurtures each and every one of us and that we would be incapable of developing without a society around us. That exquisitely well-prepared and delicious food, no matter how rich, is infinitely less fattening than dreadful fast food and convenience store candy. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-believe-is-true-even-though-you-cannot-prove-it/283480/43 "2005-01-07T08:20:54Z")
> [@OtakuLoki](#): > > I believe that the interval between zero and one is equal to the interval between one and two, but I couldn’t prove it if you held a gun to my head, and offered me unlimited Elixer of Life\* if I could do it. One more thing. I believe, that someday, sometime, when I feel the need to star a word or phrase in a post on the SDMB I’ll actually remember to define that star before I post. :smack: \*Elixer of Life is better known to some people as Coca-Cola. ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-believe-is-true-even-though-you-cannot-prove-it/283480/44 "2005-01-07T08:29:29Z")
**Matt** , I’m interested in your belief that belief in a higher cause (by which I assume you include belief in the Judeo-Christian God) provokes “unconsciousness of the nature of one’s acts”. Since it is this, according to you, that results in failure to do right, are we to assume that atheists (who also believe in no other higher cause) will always do right? Assuming that their “desire” to do so doesn’t dip below a critical point? Do you personally believe in no higher cause, and if you do, how do you prevent it provoking the “unconsciousness of the nature of your acts”? Or do you include yourself among those who fail? ---
**Author:** ![counsel\_wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/65b543/32.png) [@counsel\_wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/counsel_wolf)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-believe-is-true-even-though-you-cannot-prove-it/283480/45 "2005-01-07T08:35:36Z")
> [@Jackknifed Juggernaut](#): > > This question was asked of 14 scientists. Their answers are given here (free registration required): > > [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/04/science/04edgehed.html](http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/04/science/04edgehed.html) > > I’d love to hear Doper responses. I need to think about this for a while so I’ll post my opinion later. Two things: Logic works, if you apply its principles to things you know to be true, the results will also be true. (Comes with a free gift of: True and False exist) There is an external, observable universe that behaves in the same way for me as it does for everyone else. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-believe-is-true-even-though-you-cannot-prove-it/283480/46 "2005-01-07T08:37:10Z")
I believe I’ll have another beer. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 8:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-believe-is-true-even-though-you-cannot-prove-it/283480/47 "2005-01-07T08:39:12Z")
I believe in the Father, the almighty, maker of heaven and Earth, of all that is seen and unseen… wait, this isn’t a post padding thread? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Zonyx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a183cd/32.png) [@Zonyx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zonyx)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-believe-is-true-even-though-you-cannot-prove-it/283480/48 "2005-01-07T08:40:56Z")
I’d believe very strongly in extra-terrestrial life and in intelligent extra-terrestrial life at that. The universe is so immense that it seems arrogant to think that we are the only ones. Also I believe in the multiverse. I think that that’s one way in which space or time travel could possibly become reality. And I believe that there is a God of some sort who created us all. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-believe-is-true-even-though-you-cannot-prove-it/283480/49 "2005-01-07T08:45:09Z")
Actually, to truthfully answer the question, I _don’t_ believe in the applicability or inapplicability of logic to this world, or the existence or non-existence of beings we would normally call supernatural, even though there is no evidence either for a logical universe nor the existence of deities. I also do not have enough evidence to _dis_believe solipsism, but I guess if you had to pick one thing I believe in, it is that there is something out there that is _not_ me. But I am not sure that I believe in even THAT enough to qualify as a belief in a rigorous doxological system. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-believe-is-true-even-though-you-cannot-prove-it/283480/50 "2005-01-07T09:00:35Z")
> [@roger thornhill](#): > > **Matt** , I’m interested in your belief that belief in a higher cause (by which I assume you include belief in the Judeo-Christian God) provokes “unconsciousness of the nature of one’s acts”. You assume wrong; I mean belief in any cause perceived to be overwhelmingly important, which could be the Judeochristian god, keeping South Asia free of communists, juche, the free market, etc. I probably should have said “ideology.” ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-believe-is-true-even-though-you-cannot-prove-it/283480/51 "2005-01-07T09:04:24Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#): > > You assume wrong; I mean belief in any cause perceived to be overwhelmingly important, which could be the Judeochristian god, keeping South Asia free of communists, juche, the free market, etc. I probably should have said “ideology.” Actually, I assume right, as I wrote “include”! And, most intriguingly, how would you answer my last paragraph: ‘Do you personally believe in no higher cause, and if you do, how do you prevent it provoking the “unconsciousness of the nature of your acts”? Or do you include yourself among those who fail?’ ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-believe-is-true-even-though-you-cannot-prove-it/283480/52 "2005-01-07T09:08:38Z")
I believe in a number of causes; I recognize the danger of allowing my ethical sense to be overwhelmed thereby, and I try to avoid this (“if I had to choose between betraying my friend and betraying my country, I hope I would have the courage to betray my country”). I’m not in a very good position to tell you whether or not I succeed, and even if I do, I doubtless fall victim to the other two failings, especially #3. ---
**Author:** ![gum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bbe5ce/32.png) [@gum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gum)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-believe-is-true-even-though-you-cannot-prove-it/283480/53 "2005-01-07T09:26:50Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > (a) There are no gods, or supernatural deity or deities, or indeed supernatural forces of any sort. (b) Intelligent life exists elsewhere in the galaxy. > > And yes, I recognize the contradiction in denying one statement of faith, and then turning around and asserting another statement of faith. But if I’m honest with myself, this is what I believe. I’ll go with **Cervaise** ’s (a) [no ‘B’ for me, sorry] And **Roger Thornhill** ’s > [@](#): > > _‘Do you personally believe in no higher cause, and if you do, how do you prevent it provoking the “unconsciousness of the nature of your acts”? Or do you include yourself among those who fail?’_ No - and no. And , ofcourse, **Ludovic** ’s : I believe I’ll have another beer 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-believe-is-true-even-though-you-cannot-prove-it/283480/54 "2005-01-07T09:27:35Z")
I believe our universe (and an infinite number of other universes) budded off from a larger meta-universe. I believe that every even number greater than two is the sum of two primes. ---
**Author:** ![Isosleepy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/isosleepy/32/479_2.png) [@Isosleepy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isosleepy)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-believe-is-true-even-though-you-cannot-prove-it/283480/55 "2005-01-07T13:27:26Z")
I believe I get most of my mail. But my faith is weak, there are days I doubt I get it all. Really, its more that I want to believe I get all my mail. ---
**Author:** ![TastesLikeBurning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@TastesLikeBurning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TastesLikeBurning)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-believe-is-true-even-though-you-cannot-prove-it/283480/56 "2005-01-07T13:51:22Z")
I believe the children are our future, to teach them well and let them lead the way. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-believe-is-true-even-though-you-cannot-prove-it/283480/57 "2005-01-07T14:00:45Z")
> [@Sample\_the\_Dog](#): > > The Little Prince’s sheep has not eaten the rose. I believe this is the most excellent post so far. I believe that there are people among us who have never once in their lives had, or tried to have, a deeper thought than, “Wonder what’s for dinner?” ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-believe-is-true-even-though-you-cannot-prove-it/283480/58 "2005-01-07T15:01:07Z")
I believe there is extraterrestrial life. I believe there is no god, no higher being, just aliens struggling to make sense out of this life just like we are. I believe that there is a significant portion of our brains we do not use, maybe not 90% but a lot. ---
**Author:** ![TheBoneyKingofNowhere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@TheBoneyKingofNowhere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheBoneyKingofNowhere)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-believe-is-true-even-though-you-cannot-prove-it/283480/59 "2005-01-07T15:52:21Z")
> [@sanfaustino](#): > > Oh, and one other thing I believe but will never be able to prove (at least during my lifetime): > > The Cubs will never win the World Series. That the Cubs _WILL_ win the World Series (in my lifetime). ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2005, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-believe-is-true-even-though-you-cannot-prove-it/283480/60 "2005-01-07T16:09:58Z")
I believe that the universe we know is just an infection growing under the fingernail of some other being. And luckily for us, he’s postponed taking his antibiotics. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-believe-is-true-even-though-you-cannot-prove-it/283480.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-believe-is-true-even-though-you-cannot-prove-it/283480.md?page=4)