# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![TastesLikeBurning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@TastesLikeBurning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TastesLikeBurning)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2005, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-believe-is-true-even-though-you-cannot-prove-it/283480/121 "2005-01-09T23:01:26Z")
> [@LucyInDisguise](#): > > That is _ **so** _ close, and yet so far … > > _I_ believe the children are our future, _yet only **if** _ we teach them well and \ ***how** to \* lead the way … 🙂 > > * * * > > _I’ll Take Reality for $500, Alex …_ Thanks, I’m just glad you picked up on it. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![TastesLikeBurning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@TastesLikeBurning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TastesLikeBurning)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2005, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-believe-is-true-even-though-you-cannot-prove-it/283480/122 "2005-01-09T23:08:26Z")
Actually, I take that back. My recollection of the lyrics is pretty much spot on, all that is needed is to remove **“to”** after the word future. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-believe-is-true-even-though-you-cannot-prove-it/283480/123 "2005-01-10T17:33:41Z")
> [@Priceguy](#): > > But since I believe we will one day be able to determine that, I can claim that the universe is deterministic. Actually, the best current science states not that the future action of these particles cannot presently be predicted, but that _they are fundamentally unpredictable as a basic property of their nature._ If it were as easy as you say, Einstein wouldn’t have been so bothered. Unless you know something Einstein didn’t. > [@Kyla](#): > > I believe that it is impossible for humans to know understand the way the universe works. I believe the opposite. The most astonishing thing about the universe is not how much of it is currently incomprehensible, but that everything to which we’ve turned our attention ultimately surrenders to our scientific toolkit. > [@Risha](#): > > I believe that religious people of all stripes, but especially Christians, are dangerous. I believe that people throughout history have used a variety of philosophies to rationalize their greed and destructiveness, and that their specific choices of philosophy, taken case by case, are largely irrelevant. Human nature is the constant, not the scripture they claim to be following. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-believe-is-true-even-though-you-cannot-prove-it/283480/124 "2005-01-10T18:31:30Z")
On the subject of guilt or innocence, I firmly believe that the [West Memphis Three](http://www.crimelibrary.com/notorious_murders/famous/memphis/updates.html) are innocent and that in addition to destroying the lives of three young men the real murderers are still out there. I also believe that the stepfather, Byers, at very least knows far more than he is telling. Obviously I cannot prove this, but the prosecution certainly failed to prove the guilt of the boys and yet they were convicted. (There are numerous pit threads about this case if anybody’s interested.) I believe that JFK was killed by a small conspiracy that involved rogue gov’t officials but that Oswald was a lone gunman. I also believe that his death was related to the murders of the Ngo brothers (Diem & Nhu) earlier the same month). I believe that Ronald Reagan really was mostly clueless about the Arms-for-Hostages affair, though this makes me loathe him more. I believe that Hermann Göring was not responsible for but was _knowledgeable of_ von Stauffenberg’s plot to kill Hitler. I also believe that he was in possession of the treasures of Troy that were never found. I believe that Jesus was a historical figure, a former Essene and mystic who never had any desire to reach a larger audience than first century Israeli Jews. I believe that St. Paul was a delusional opportunist who was generally despised by the actual followers of Jesus and completely rewrote the message to suit his own agenda. I believe Jefferson Davis and Abraham Lincoln had the same father (Samuel Emory Davis). I believe Lincoln had at least one homosexual relationship prior to his marriage (as did, I believe, Alexander Hamilton). I believe Paris Hilton is the best reason we’ll ever produce for why people who hate America are right. I believe Jimmy Carter is an excellent reason for why they’re wrong. _I believe I can fly…_, but I’ve yet to find an insurance company who’ll sufficiently underwrite me to allow me to put this to the test. ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-believe-is-true-even-though-you-cannot-prove-it/283480/125 "2005-01-10T18:37:16Z")
> [@jimmmy](#): > > That there is Sentient Life in the Universe other than on Earth > > That there is a God Ditto ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2005, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-believe-is-true-even-though-you-cannot-prove-it/283480/126 "2005-01-11T07:21:56Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > Actually, the best current science states not that the future action of these particles cannot presently be predicted, but that _they are fundamentally unpredictable as a basic property of their nature._ If it were as easy as you say, Einstein wouldn’t have been so bothered. Unless you know something Einstein didn’t. I know a lot of things Einstein didn’t. Could you try explaining or providing a link explaining why they are unpredictable? ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2005, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-believe-is-true-even-though-you-cannot-prove-it/283480/127 "2005-01-11T15:00:39Z")
I believe that one person can and does make a difference. I believe that people have the power to overcome and change only if they chose too. I believe we all need more fiber in our diets. I firmly believe that Free TV programming is designed to be insipid predictable crap so to force people to subscribe to cable/satellite shows, which are 84% crap ( the remaining percentage is always on when you are at work or too busy to watch.) Thus involving the invention called TiVo, which needs a subscription as well. I believe that by 2010, all of our incomes will eventually go towards subscriptions ( Tivo, Cable, Sirius, Cell Phones and OnStar.) With the exception of medical and lawyerly stuff, college is overrated and the blue collar jobs like plumber & electricians are greatly under rated. The medical feild has become a pawn of the pharmaceutical industry. Their is a cure for the common cold and cancer out there, locked away somewhere, but it will never surface. Cancer and colds are bajillion dollar businesses. ---
**Author:** ![js\_africanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@js\_africanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/js_africanus)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2005, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-believe-is-true-even-though-you-cannot-prove-it/283480/128 "2005-01-11T15:30:18Z")
> [@Shirley Ujest](#): > > I believe that one person can and does make a difference. And most the time they probably shouldn’t. ``` —Marg Simpson ``` ---
**Author:** ![Agrippina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8797f3/32.png) [@Agrippina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agrippina)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2005, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-believe-is-true-even-though-you-cannot-prove-it/283480/129 "2005-01-11T15:43:12Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > I believe that JFK was killed by a small conspiracy that involved rogue gov’t officials but that Oswald was a lone gunman. I also believe that his death was related to the murders of the Ngo brothers (Diem & Nhu) earlier the same month). I believe JFK Jr. was also assasinated by someone in the government because he expressed interest in getting into politics. I don’t believe George W. Bush is an evil or stupid man. I do believe that he’s an extremely lazy man but one that knows how to tune his personality to win elections. I believe his downfall will result with his fault of relying too much on those around him. I also believe that whatever happens in these next four years is something this country can get through. If it can survive a Civil War, it can survive Bush/Cheney. ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2005, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-believe-is-true-even-though-you-cannot-prove-it/283480/130 "2005-01-11T16:13:11Z")
I believe consciousness and intelligence are in some way basic to existence and not mere by-products of physical forces. I believe the world is a better place because the Allies won the Second World War. I believe my beloved cat who died a year and a half ago has come to visit me in dreams several times. I believe that beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. I believe I am utterly irresistible to all women, even the gay ones. Certain sad and sometimes farcical experiences I’ve had while acting on this belief in no way reflect the reality of the situation and are in all probability the deplorable consequence of radical feminist propaganda. I believe my first two examples are serious and straightforward, and the last two are tongue in cheek. I’m not sure about the third. (Hey, we ALL need a teddy bear sometimes!) ---
**Author:** ![Sample\_the\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Sample\_the\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sample_the_Dog)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2005, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-believe-is-true-even-though-you-cannot-prove-it/283480/131 "2005-01-12T00:32:27Z")
I believe that all of the beliefs we can prove are, at some level, founded on beliefs that we can’t prove. I believe that the tendency for humans to believe in the supernatural is a byproduct of brain functions which seek patterns and meaning, assign motives, seek affection, and search for human-like qualities. I believe that love, in its myriad forms, actually is the most important thing in the world. I believe that diving into the discussion about quantum mechanics on this thread would be a hijack. (Sorry.) ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2005, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-believe-is-true-even-though-you-cannot-prove-it/283480/132 "2005-01-12T02:06:13Z")
> [@Sample\_the\_Dog](#): > > I believe that all of the beliefs we can prove are, at some level, founded on beliefs that we can’t prove. Actually, that’s proveable. Don’t have a cite, but I’ve seen the proof that all proofs require assumptions. ---
**Author:** ![Sample\_the\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Sample\_the\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sample_the_Dog)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2005, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-believe-is-true-even-though-you-cannot-prove-it/283480/133 "2005-01-12T04:07:55Z")
> [@bup](#): > > Actually, that’s proveable. Don’t have a cite, but I’ve seen the proof that all proofs require assumptions. But if that’s true, then this proof itself must rest on unprovable assumptions, which means it can’t be proved, which means it might be false. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2005, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-believe-is-true-even-though-you-cannot-prove-it/283480/134 "2005-01-12T04:10:15Z")
> [@Sample\_the\_Dog](#): > > But if that’s true, then this proof itself must rest on unprovable assumptions, which means it can’t be proved, which means it might be false. 😃 Pretty much. Welcome to the hell of modern logic. ---
**Author:** ![Monstre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@Monstre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstre)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2005, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-believe-is-true-even-though-you-cannot-prove-it/283480/135 "2005-01-12T06:36:59Z")
Speaking of proof… I believe Fermat was screwing with everybody, and had himself a good laugh. 😉 (I believe his theorem was right, and a good educated guess at the time). ---
**Author:** ![kimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f0a364/32.png) [@kimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kimera)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2005, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-believe-is-true-even-though-you-cannot-prove-it/283480/136 "2005-01-12T06:47:38Z")
> [@CeeSpine](#): > > I believe this is my first post…thank you! Welcome, I hope you stick around! I believe that humanity is moving in a positive direction and eventually we will end a great deal of evils. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2005, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-believe-is-true-even-though-you-cannot-prove-it/283480/137 "2005-01-12T07:08:35Z")
There aren’t any gods. There’s no such thing as a “soul” or any kind of surviving consciousness. There is no meaning or purpose in the universe. It’s all just a giant fluke. Life arises and evolves on other planets. Bush cheated in both elections. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-believe-is-true-even-though-you-cannot-prove-it/283480/138 "2005-01-13T00:10:22Z")
I believe that all Dopers should have the power to _ban_ just one person (and not just on the SDMB but in the Waking World). I believe that Eve is the lovechild of Quentin Crisp and Dorothy Parker (how Dorothy was still fertile in her 60s is the real “leap of faith” part, but there are theories). And I believe that Dr. Cox was correct on _SCRUBS_ when he gave Perry’s Perspectives: > [@Dr. Perry Cox](#): > > One, if someone is standing in front of me in line at the coffee shop and can’t decide what they want in the half hour it took to get to the register then i should be allowed to kill them; two, i am fairly sure that if they took porn off the internet, there would only be one website left and it would be called [BringBackthePorn.com](http://BringBackthePorn.com); three, and most importantly of all, the only way to be respected as a doctor and a man is to be an island, you are born alone, you damn sure die alone. isn’t that right spike? the point is, and you might want to jot this down, only the weak need help ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-believe-is-true-even-though-you-cannot-prove-it/283480/139 "2005-01-13T00:14:35Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > I believe that all Dopers should have the power to _ban_ just one person (and not just on the SDMB but in the Waking World). I believe if we had the power to ban one person, we’d have no surviving governments anywhere in the world. I’m still trying to figure out whether that would be a good thing or a bad thing. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Tenar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@Tenar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tenar)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-believe-is-true-even-though-you-cannot-prove-it/283480/140 "2005-01-13T00:18:55Z")
> [@Dung Beetle](#): > > 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?” I believe that our President is one such person. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-believe-is-true-even-though-you-cannot-prove-it/283480.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-believe-is-true-even-though-you-cannot-prove-it/283480.md?page=8)