I’m not interested in what the dictionary says or a textbook definition I’m interested in your personal distinction between the two ideas. How do you decide to put an idea in one category versus the other? I’m not interested in the abstract concepts like ‘objective truth’ I want to know how it works in real life for you.
Belief is when a claim comes from a source I trust. In some cases, it’s a source I’m choosing to trust.
Like, my nephew is staying with me. He’s had meth issues in the past. His alternative is a shelter. He claims that he has a seizure disorder, and that puts me in a difficult spot because he says it gets worse on the street and also in shelters.
That’s pretty believable, but there’s a part of me that’s aware it could be a manipulation, this whole claim. I haven’t asked for evidence, despite the feeling of doubt.
This is a belief of mine. I am choosing to believe his claim.
If he were to show me authenticatable hospital paperwork documenting the seizure disorder, then it would be knowledge. Then I would know.
This is an example of the difference between the two in my own life right now. It’s a belief because to a certain degree I’m taking his word for it.
Incidentally this is the same way I think the word works in religion. People believe in God because they choose to. I feel like I know God exists, because I’ve encountered it during mushroom trips. But others, who haven’t had those direct contact experiences, believe.
