#belief

[accurate-alignment]

Accurate.

The ones who know he's lying are gleefully complicit in whatever they think the conspiracy is — that's why there are many people who should know better who today love tearing down our government, sniffing out our rights, and rounding up people they seem "other" ...power.

THOM HARTMANN: Science Explains Why Republicans Can’t Accept Trump’s Guilt (Sept. 12, 2023)

Scientists discovered a fascinating reason why Republicans can’t accept criticism of Donald Trump. Thom explains.

In the above video, Thom Hartmann refers to a Raw Story column by cognitive neuroscientist Bobby Azarian, PhD (shown below):

Here are some excerpts from Azarian's column:

In 2009, a study published in PLOS ONE challenged our understanding of belief systems. Researchers placed participants into the confines of an fMRI scanner and presented them with a mixture of factual and abstract statements. The results were illuminating. Disbelief, it turns out, is cognitively demanding. It requires more mental effort than simply accepting a statement as true. From an evolutionary perspective, this preference for easy belief makes sense; a perpetually skeptical individual questioning every piece of information would struggle to adapt in a fast-paced world. What does all this have to do with Trump supporters? Well, it’s far less cognitively demanding for them to believe anything their leader tells them. Any challenge to what Trump tells them is true takes mental work. This means there is a psychological incentive for Trump loyalists to maintain their loyalty. (I wrote about this phenomenon in a slightly different context in the Daily Beast article "Religious Fundamentalism: A Side Effect of Lazy Brains?") Molding of belief: neuroplasticity at play Now, let's consider the unique predicament faced by individuals who staunchly support Trump and want him to again become president. From the moment Trump began his political career and his social engineering career, his supporters have been exposed to narratives — Trump doesn't lie, Democrats are communists, the media is an enemy of the people — that emphasize loyalty and trust in their political idol. These narratives often steer away from critical examination and instead encourage blind faith. When coupled with the brain's inherent tendency to accept rather than question, it creates an ideal environment for unwavering allegiance. No matter that Trump, time and again, has been revealed to be a serial liar, habitually misrepresenting matters of great consequence, from elections to economics to public health. For example, in the Psychology Today article "Why Evangelicals are Wired to Believe Trump’s Falsehoods," I explain that the children of Christian fundamentalists typically begin to suppress critical thinking at an early age. This is required if one is to accept Biblical stories as literal truth, rather than metaphors for how to live life practically and with purpose. Attributing natural occurrences to mystical causes discourages youth from seeking evidence to back their beliefs. Consequently, the brain structures that support critical thinking and logical reasoning don't fully mature. This paves the way for heightened vulnerability to deceit and manipulative narratives, especially from cunning political figures. Such increased suggestibility arises from a mix of the brain's propensity to accept unverified claims and intense indoctrination. Given the brain's neuroplastic nature, which allows it to shape according to experiences, some religious followers are more predisposed to accept improbable assertions. In other words, our brains are remarkably adaptable and continuously evolving landscapes. For ardent Trump supporters, residing in an environment that prioritizes faith over empirical evidence can reshape the neural circuits within their brains. [color emphasis added]

[edited]

[be-a-muslim-1st]

[agirlwithglam]

YOU ARE A MIRACLE!!!!

the chance of you being born is 1 in 400 TRILLION. and yet, here you are.

(pause for dramatic effect)

the fact that you are even alive right now, makes you so capable. makes you so special. it means you matter so much. that God has a big plan for you. you are a miracle. do you understand?

stop thinking that you cannot do something, or you're not capable of this or love or not worthy enough, blah blah blah. YOU'RE ALIVE. YOU'RE BREATHING. YOU'RE CONSCIOUS. that fact alone should prove that you can do ANYTHING and EVERYTHING

"My motto is: I'm alive, so that means I can do anything."

- Venus Williams

[incognitopolls]

Feel free to elaborate on which religion in the tags if you answer yes.

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[somewhere-rich]

Realising my age is getting serious but my life isn't.

[succulentsiren]

Stop letting others define your life and start making the rules for yourself.

If you believe you can be successful in business and still maintain healthy relationships you can. If you believe you can have a successful online business you can. If you believe that you can become a successful influencer you can.

No matter what it is, only you can determine your fate. Ignore everything and everyone else.

Start creating your own ideal reality and don’t stop until you get it.

[a-path-by-the-moon]

[entheognosis]

[dk-thrive]

I can see now that I was hungry for love... For something to love: a bite, a dream, a person, a meal, a field, a piece of a world worth believing in.

— C. Pam Zhang, Land of Milk and Honey (Riverhead Books, September 26, 2023)

[creature-wizard]

"Respect other people's spiritual beliefs" is for things like how many gods there are, or whether Jesus always existed with the Father or was begotten five minutes before creation started or was just some guy who got really popular, or whether the divine is immanent or transcendent or both.

"Respect other people's spiritual beliefs" is not for shit like "I believe all the religions I don't like were actually created by an evil conspiracy trying to suppress the truth of my spirituality, which must be spread across the world to save us all from the evil conspiracy." That's just straight-up bigotry and conspiracism. That shit gets people killed.

[glowup-princess]

ʜᴏᴡ ᴛᴏ ɢᴇᴛ ɪɴᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜʀ ꜰᴇᴍᴇɴɪɴᴇ ᴇɴᴇʀɢʏ pt.2

pt.1

Embracing your feminine energy involves connecting with qualities such as intuition, creativity, empathy, and receptivity.

Activate Your Senses: Engage in activities that stimulate all five senses to foster presence and mindfulness. This could include taking a warm bath with essential oils, listening to soothing music, savoring a piece of dark chocolate, or applying a fragrant lotion.

Embrace Vulnerability: Allow yourself to be open and authentic in your interactions. Sharing your true feelings and experiences fosters deeper connections and aligns with feminine energy.

Set Healthy Boundaries: Establish clear personal boundaries to protect your energy and well-being. This practice empowers you to maintain balance and respect in your relationships.

Engage in Intuitive Practices: Cultivate your intuition through activities like meditation, mindfulness, or tarot reading. Trusting and honing your inner guidance enhances your connection to feminine energy.

Surround Yourself with Feminine Energy: Connect with other women through friendships, mentorships, or women's groups. Engaging in supportive communities fosters empowerment and reinforces feminine qualities.

Honor Natural Cycles: Acknowledge and align with natural rhythms, such as the lunar cycle or seasonal changes. This practice deepens your connection to the ebb and flow inherent in feminine energy.

Be kind w yourself <3

pt.2?

Likes, comments, reblogs and follows are appreciated <3

[palatinewolfsblog]

"Be a free thinker and don't accept everything you hear as truth.

Be critical and evaluate what you believe in."

- Aristotle

[wandoffire]

[agirlwithglam]

i read somewhere on pinterest that this girl set an alarm and labelled it with a shooting star- 💫 - and when it went off she'd make a wish

"you get to make your own magic and believe in it"

that was the cutest thing ever honestly and i'm gonna start doing this!

[incognitopolls]

We ask your questions so you don’t have to! Submit your questions to have them posted anonymously as polls.