World, Writing, Wealth discussion

A belief doesn't require any proof. We may believe in something originating from our inner conviction, conscience, because everybody believes the same, arising from elsewhere, etc.
A knowledge is a different animal altogether. It should be stemming from first hand experience, proof, verified facts, corroborated by evidence and so on.. A lot of stuff to dissuade maybe our initial disbelief.
Some distinguish allegations and facts, beliefs and knowledge, while others mix them all up together... Religion and science can be good neighbors in the same mind.
Do you differentiate between the two? What's your source of knowledge: your own experiences, internet, school, newspapers, books and how credible are they?

I guess I am a bit different - no surprise there. I only believe in what I know to be true, thus I believe in the second law of thermodynamics. As evidence, many times I have placed a hot dinner on the table and never once has it flown up and splattered itself over the ceiling, at the same time getting cool. One of the problems with current news is that some people make up "facts" so it is hard to know what to believe, and this is the basis of some of my recent blog posts on things like Syria.

For me, religion comes into a different category. It is impossible to verify, so you either accept it or you do not. You can accept parts of it, of course, for example, for me the story leading up to Christ's crucifixion does not exactly make sense, so I accept that it was embellished to convey a meaning, and probably to satisfy Constantine, who threw religious dissidents off a cliff in the style of Tiberius Claudius Nero.

Or how does knowledge transform into belief? Until I was 34, I was an agnostic, and then I became determined that I would decide whether or not I could believe in a higher being. With an open mind, I began to read and study. C.S. Lewis was an atheist for many years and came to Christianity through reasoned thought, and his book Mere Christianity influenced me greatly.

On another front, it's apparent that man didn't descend directly from apes, although we're closely related. No missing link discovered yet.

And man hasn't been able to create life from non-life. Maybe someday, but not yet.

Knowledge doesn't necessarily create belief, but it can suspend disbelief.

Once I believed in Santa Claus
Once I believed in fairies at the bottom of the garden
Once I believed that all adults were good and descent
Once I believed that politicians worked for the good of the people
Once I believed that religion was good
Once I believed that I would win the lottery

Then I grew up.

Now I believe in high probabilities and verifiable fact.

Sorry Santa does not exist, nor do fairies. Paedophiles exist. Politicians lie and line their own pockets or the pockets of their supporters. Religion; which one does not spend its time killing others or denying any other belief. Not Christians - how about right to life campaigners in USA planting bombs. The Catholic Church and the abuse scandals

I still buy a lottery ticket now and then - I have hope if not belief.

We grow and so does our disillusionment...