July 18, 2025
Do You Just Believe...or do You Truly Understand?
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Have you ever questioned whether you *truly* understand something, or if you’ve simply been led to *believe* it? In this episode, I get into the difference between *belief* and *understanding*. We all hold beliefs, but sometimes those beliefs aren’t based on evidence, reason, or critical thinking—they’re just emotionally charged ideas that we’ve accepted without deep reflection. Join me as we explore **six key ways to distinguish between belief and understanding**. From examining the depth of your knowledge, the role of evidence, and how flexible your perspective is, to understanding how emotions can cloud your judgment—this video will help you better understand where your views truly come from. - How to assess whether you’re just holding onto beliefs or truly understanding a topic - The importance of evidence and reasoning in shaping your understanding - How emotions and cultural influences can affect your beliefs - Why flexibility in perspective shows true understanding
00:00 - Introduction: Belief vs. Understanding
00:54 - Defining Belief and Understanding
02:39 - Six Ways to Distinguish Belief from Understanding
04:12 - Examining Beliefs with the Bible
07:11 - Flexibility and Perspective
10:18 - Confidence and Consistency
13:30 - Emotions and Beliefs
15:20 - Self-Inquiry: Belief or Understanding?
16:36 - The Journey of Understanding
WEBVTT
NOTE
Transcription provided by Podhome.fm
Created: 7/18/2025 9:11:32 PM
Duration: 1047.24
Channels: 1
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Have you ever found yourself convinced that something is true,
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only to later question whether you truly understand it, or if you've just been led to believe it?
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We all have beliefs.
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They're a part of who we are, shaping our decisions,
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values, and actions.
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But what if your beliefs aren't as solid as you think?
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What if you're simply
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holding on to ideas
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rather than truly understanding them?
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In today's video, we'll explore six ways to know whether you just believe something or if you've explored the necessary actions to truly understand it.
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It's a question that can change the way you think, act, and
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engage with the world around you.
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Do you believe,
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or do you understand?
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Let's start the journey of self reflection and
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discover the difference.
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Belief can be seen as the starting point,
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often driven by emotions,
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intuition, or
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culture.
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Understanding,
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however,
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is the end goal, a more
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structured, evidence based way of knowing
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and grasping reality.
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Transitioning from belief to understanding
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requires
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a methodical approach,
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challenging assumptions,
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and
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expanding our ability to reason
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and evaluate information.
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Belief
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is the acceptance
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or conviction
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that something is true,
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even without the necessity of evidence or deep understanding.
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Beliefs are often shaped by personal experiences,
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culture,
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upbringing,
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and emotional influences.
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They don't always require logical justification
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or empirical proof to be held as true.
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For instance,
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someone might believe in a particular religion or have certain superstitions
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without needing concrete proof.
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Understanding,
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on the other hand,
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involves a deeper
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grasp of concepts
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or truths
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that comes from
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reasoning,
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evidence, and logical analysis.
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When you understand something,
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you are able to explain it in a coherent way,
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see its
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relationships
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to other things, and often
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predict outcomes based on it.
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Understanding
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requires critical thinking
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and tends to be more
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objective compared to belief.
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Six ways to know if you only believe something
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or if you truly understand something.
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One,
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examine the depth of your knowledge.
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Often a belief can be surface level, lacking
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detailed knowledge or reasoning.
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If you hold something as true
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but struggle to explain it in-depth
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or provide clear examples,
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it's likely a belief.
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You may believe that
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hard work leads to success.
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But if asked to explain the underlying
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mechanisms,
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like why hard work specifically
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causes success in various
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contexts,
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you may find it difficult to provide an in-depth evidence based
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answer.
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If you understand something,
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you can explain it in detail,
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provide
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examples
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or evidence,
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and explore the connections
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between the concepts.
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Your understanding
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feels more like a coherent,
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logical framework.
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You understand how hard work
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can lead to success.
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Because you can discuss the importance of
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skill development,
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the role of persistence,
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time management,
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and
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overcoming setbacks
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with examples
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from various fields.
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So using the Bible, we can examine our depth of knowledge of it.
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Do you believe the bible is true?
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Well, the only way to know if our belief is true or false
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would be to examine it thoroughly.
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If you haven't examined it, then your belief is just a belief,
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not an understanding.
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Two,
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look for justification
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and evidence.
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Beliefs often exist without requiring proof or justification.
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They may be based on
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intuition
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or
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cultural norms or
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emotional
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attachments.
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You might believe in a political party because it's
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what you've always heard from your family or community
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without
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actually having critically examined
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the policy proposals
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or data backing them.
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Understanding
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requires solid reasoning or evidence.
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If you truly understand something,
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you can back it up with facts,
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experiments,
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or a logical progression of thought.
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You understand,
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scientific theory
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because you can explain how it fits
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within existing models,
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provides predictive power, and is supported by experiments or
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real world applications.
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So using the bible, we need to first examine it,
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then look for evidence.
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So my question to you is,
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what evidence should we be looking for?
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A belief would be considered,
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in my opinion,
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that the universe was made in six days.
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Adam and Eve were the only first humans,
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Noah and the flood,
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Sodom and Gomorrah, etcetera.
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These are examples.
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The starting points to build understanding.
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The evidence isn't finding
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genes to date back to Adam
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or deciding that the fruit of knowledge is an apple
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or
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even finding Noah's ark.
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The evidence
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in these
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are concepts your brain uses
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to understand the world,
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to build on, the structure
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to understand how to function as a human being,
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how to ask questions,
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understand consequences,
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step by step breakdowns,
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The consistency
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of each chapter that builds upon the previous chapter.
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It's not just a story,
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a history, or entertainment.
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When you understand the bible,
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you realize your belief is justified
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because of the evidence of results,
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not evidence of material items.
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Three.
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Reflect on the flexibility
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of your perspective.
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Beliefs are often rigid
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and can be emotionally charged.
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If you hold something as a belief,
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it might be harder to change,
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even when confronted with contradictory evidence.
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You may defend it passionately,
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sometimes resorting to emotional reasoning or ignoring alternative viewpoints.
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If you believe in a conspiracy theory,
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it can be difficult to entertain new information that contradicts it because it taps into your emotional
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or psychological
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need
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to defend it.
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When you understand something,
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you're more open
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to adapting your perspective
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when presented with new evidence or arguments.
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Understanding
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is dynamic.
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It grows and evolves with new information.
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You can change your mind
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without feeling threatened
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because your understanding
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is based on reason,
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not emotional attachment.
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If new evidence rises that contradicts
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a previously held scientific theory,
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you might adjust your understanding based on the new data,
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seeing it as a opportunity to refine
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your knowledge.
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So using the Bible,
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I ask you, are you flexible?
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Does it make you emotional
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or defensive
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if I say things against what you have always believed?
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If you believe the earth was made in six days,
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and I say
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I don't believe that,
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are you willing to actually examine that idea?
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Or do you default to the surface idea that to be a Christian,
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you have to believe in a young earth?
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Why does that have to be true?
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If you believe that God can do anything,
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then why are you setting limitations on him?
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Wouldn't it be more plausible that he is teaching
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lessons to you to make you more successful,
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to be a reflection
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of him
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than giving you a history lesson.
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To teach successfully,
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we give examples,
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not history.
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We teach how to do something, not show the end result.
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Showing someone a house
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does not give them the understanding of how it was built.
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If they look at the blueprints,
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the architect's idea of how it should be built,
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the step by step guidance of building it,
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then we truly appreciate the work that was put into it.
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The bible is that blueprint.
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Look at it differently.
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Find those instructions,
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not the materials.
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Does it matter if the bricks are red or white?
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Four,
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gauge your confidence level.
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Beliefs tend to create a sense of certainty
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and security.
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When you believe something, you have to feel confident in your position,
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even if the belief hasn't been fully scrutinized.
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The confidence is sometimes based on a sense of
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identity or comfort.
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You might feel certain that a certain type of diet works because it aligns with your worldview without having explored scientific studies
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to back up your belief.
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When you understand something,
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your confidence is tempered
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with awareness
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of its limitations.
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Understanding
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often comes with an appreciation
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for complexity
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and the possibility of uncertainty.
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When you understand diet recommendations,
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you might be confident
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in the overall
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evidence supporting it.
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But you're also aware that the issue is multifaceted
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with nuances
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and areas of ongoing
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research.
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By using the Bible, we can do the same thing.
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By understanding the Bible, we can see those limitations.
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We can understand it was written for a very specific people,
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in a very specific culture,
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in a very specific time.
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However,
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if you dig deeper,
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it is timeless.
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Does that mean you should follow those customs
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or learn the concepts that were presented?
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Customs
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or the concepts?
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Five,
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Check for internal consistency.
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00:12:07.960 --> 00:12:12.220
Beliefs might not always be consistent with other beliefs you hold
279
00:12:12.600 --> 00:12:14.540
because they're often inherited
280
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or shaped by emotional or social factors.
281
00:12:19.185 --> 00:12:20.324
Cognitive dissonance
282
00:12:20.625 --> 00:12:25.605
can occur when beliefs clash with each other or new information.
283
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But it's often resolved by rationalizing
284
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or ignoring
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contradiction.
286
00:12:32.290 --> 00:12:35.030
You might believe in both personal responsibility
287
00:12:35.970 --> 00:12:37.510
and wealth inequality
288
00:12:38.130 --> 00:12:40.470
without reconciling how they coexist
289
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in shaping individual outcomes.
290
00:12:44.530 --> 00:12:45.030
Understanding
291
00:12:45.730 --> 00:12:47.510
tends to be more consistent
292
00:12:48.024 --> 00:12:53.404
because it comes from a logical framework that ties various concepts together.
293
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If new information contradicts an understanding,
294
00:12:57.305 --> 00:12:58.685
you might reassess
295
00:12:59.065 --> 00:13:02.765
or refine your model to account for the discrepancy.
296
00:13:03.990 --> 00:13:06.890
If you understand how wealth inequality works,
297
00:13:07.270 --> 00:13:11.530
you can integrate it with your views on personal responsibility,
298
00:13:12.630 --> 00:13:13.130
acknowledging
299
00:13:13.590 --> 00:13:14.890
that while individual
300
00:13:15.350 --> 00:13:16.650
choices matter,
301
00:13:17.175 --> 00:13:19.115
structural factors can significantly
302
00:13:19.735 --> 00:13:21.035
influence outcomes.
303
00:13:22.615 --> 00:13:24.154
If you're born rich,
304
00:13:25.575 --> 00:13:28.955
personal choices are different than if you're born poor.
305
00:13:30.990 --> 00:13:32.770
Again, by using the Bible,
306
00:13:33.150 --> 00:13:34.930
we definitely see this.
307
00:13:35.390 --> 00:13:39.010
The internal struggle is what the whole Bible is about.
308
00:13:39.470 --> 00:13:41.010
The struggle of our body
309
00:13:41.325 --> 00:13:42.305
and our mind,
310
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the subconscious
311
00:13:44.365 --> 00:13:45.425
and the conscious,
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material gain versus
313
00:13:48.765 --> 00:13:49.265
ethics.
314
00:13:50.285 --> 00:13:54.145
Does believing the world was made in six days improve your life,
315
00:13:54.839 --> 00:13:55.740
make you happier,
316
00:13:56.360 --> 00:13:57.420
make you successful
317
00:13:58.360 --> 00:13:59.100
or wealthy?
318
00:14:00.040 --> 00:14:01.980
Or does learning the concepts
319
00:14:02.519 --> 00:14:05.579
of how to build your own world do that?
320
00:14:07.085 --> 00:14:07.585
Six,
321
00:14:08.285 --> 00:14:09.825
notice the role of emotions.
322
00:14:11.245 --> 00:14:13.905
Beliefs are often emotionally charged.
323
00:14:14.285 --> 00:14:16.465
They can be tied to personal identity,
324
00:14:17.165 --> 00:14:18.065
group loyalty,
325
00:14:18.525 --> 00:14:20.545
or emotional comfort.
326
00:14:21.230 --> 00:14:25.089
You might defend beliefs more fiercely when they're challenged,
327
00:14:25.550 --> 00:14:30.450
not because they're logically sound, but because they provide a sense of safety
328
00:14:30.829 --> 00:14:31.810
or belonging.
329
00:14:32.670 --> 00:14:33.649
You might believe
330
00:14:33.985 --> 00:14:34.805
in a particular
331
00:14:35.105 --> 00:14:37.605
political party and feel defensive
332
00:14:38.065 --> 00:14:41.605
or angry when confronted with opposing viewpoints,
333
00:14:42.225 --> 00:14:45.285
as it feels like your attack on your own identity.
334
00:14:46.550 --> 00:14:47.050
Understanding
335
00:14:47.750 --> 00:14:49.529
tends to be more intellectually
336
00:14:49.830 --> 00:14:50.330
grounded.
337
00:14:50.950 --> 00:14:54.250
While you may feel passionate about things, you understand
338
00:14:54.790 --> 00:14:56.490
your response to challenges
339
00:14:57.110 --> 00:14:58.890
is often more calm
340
00:14:59.315 --> 00:15:00.214
and reasoned,
341
00:15:00.835 --> 00:15:02.055
since you've examined
342
00:15:02.515 --> 00:15:03.255
the issue
343
00:15:03.635 --> 00:15:04.775
more deeply.
344
00:15:05.635 --> 00:15:09.735
If someone challenges your understanding of a scientific theory,
345
00:15:10.115 --> 00:15:12.535
you're more likely to engage in a discussion,
346
00:15:13.760 --> 00:15:14.820
present facts,
347
00:15:15.200 --> 00:15:17.380
and be open to differing viewpoints,
348
00:15:17.760 --> 00:15:19.620
rather than becoming defensive.
349
00:15:20.960 --> 00:15:23.300
To reflect on whether you believe
350
00:15:23.840 --> 00:15:25.780
or understand something,
351
00:15:26.320 --> 00:15:27.700
you can ask yourself,
352
00:15:29.264 --> 00:15:31.685
can I explain this concept clearly
353
00:15:32.225 --> 00:15:33.204
and in-depth
354
00:15:33.665 --> 00:15:34.725
to someone else?
355
00:15:36.464 --> 00:15:39.764
What evidence do I have to support this belief,
356
00:15:40.144 --> 00:15:41.925
and how would I evaluate
357
00:15:42.305 --> 00:15:43.524
its validity?
358
00:15:45.630 --> 00:15:51.010
Am I open to changing my view if presented with new conflicting
359
00:15:51.950 --> 00:15:52.450
information?
360
00:15:55.070 --> 00:15:57.490
By using this method of self inquiry,
361
00:15:58.505 --> 00:16:02.285
you can better determine whether your stance is based on belief
362
00:16:02.905 --> 00:16:03.725
or understanding.
363
00:16:05.225 --> 00:16:07.165
It can sometimes be difficult
364
00:16:07.545 --> 00:16:10.445
to draw the line between belief and understanding
365
00:16:11.100 --> 00:16:14.720
because they both influence our actions and perceptions.
366
00:16:15.500 --> 00:16:16.000
However,
367
00:16:16.620 --> 00:16:18.800
the key difference lies in-depth,
368
00:16:19.899 --> 00:16:21.680
evidence and flexibility.
369
00:16:23.595 --> 00:16:26.495
Beliefs often feel more immediate and
370
00:16:26.875 --> 00:16:27.375
emotionally
371
00:16:27.834 --> 00:16:28.334
charged,
372
00:16:28.795 --> 00:16:29.695
while understanding
373
00:16:30.395 --> 00:16:32.334
is marked by a more rational
374
00:16:32.795 --> 00:16:34.975
evidence based grasp of things.
375
00:16:36.100 --> 00:16:37.560
The pursuit of understanding
376
00:16:38.100 --> 00:16:39.000
is a journey
377
00:16:39.460 --> 00:16:40.280
of constant
378
00:16:40.820 --> 00:16:41.320
questioning
379
00:16:41.700 --> 00:16:42.920
and refinement.
380
00:16:44.180 --> 00:16:44.680
Understanding
381
00:16:44.980 --> 00:16:46.120
means overcoming
382
00:16:46.420 --> 00:16:47.480
our preconceived
383
00:16:48.260 --> 00:16:48.760
beliefs
384
00:16:49.105 --> 00:16:50.565
and facing uncomfortable
385
00:16:51.025 --> 00:16:52.325
truths about ourselves
386
00:16:52.705 --> 00:16:53.605
and the world.
387
00:16:54.705 --> 00:16:56.965
The more you practice self reflection
388
00:16:57.505 --> 00:16:58.725
and critical thinking,
389
00:16:59.185 --> 00:17:00.485
the easier it becomes
390
00:17:00.785 --> 00:17:02.965
to distinguish between the two.
391
00:17:04.080 --> 00:17:07.300
Where do we learn these two important standards?
392
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The bible.
393
00:17:10.640 --> 00:17:12.980
I'm Merrill, and this is Battleground.
394
00:17:13.840 --> 00:17:16.180
Click here for more bible concepts
395
00:17:17.265 --> 00:17:20.085
and here for more granny opinions.
396
00:17:21.105 --> 00:17:24.885
Subscribe and join me for an exploration of the mind.
397
00:17:26.385 --> 00:17:26.885
Goodbye.
NOTE
Transcription provided by Podhome.fm
Created: 7/18/2025 9:11:32 PM
Duration: 1047.24
Channels: 1
1
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2
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only to later question whether you truly understand it, or if you've just been led to believe it?
3
00:00:11.280 --> 00:00:12.420
We all have beliefs.
4
00:00:12.885 --> 00:00:16.025
They're a part of who we are, shaping our decisions,
5
00:00:16.485 --> 00:00:17.785
values, and actions.
6
00:00:18.165 --> 00:00:20.985
But what if your beliefs aren't as solid as you think?
7
00:00:21.365 --> 00:00:22.505
What if you're simply
8
00:00:22.885 --> 00:00:24.105
holding on to ideas
9
00:00:24.805 --> 00:00:26.825
rather than truly understanding them?
10
00:00:27.860 --> 00:00:37.560
In today's video, we'll explore six ways to know whether you just believe something or if you've explored the necessary actions to truly understand it.
11
00:00:38.100 --> 00:00:41.880
It's a question that can change the way you think, act, and
12
00:00:42.335 --> 00:00:44.114
engage with the world around you.
13
00:00:44.975 --> 00:00:45.875
Do you believe,
14
00:00:46.415 --> 00:00:48.355
or do you understand?
15
00:00:48.895 --> 00:00:51.795
Let's start the journey of self reflection and
16
00:00:52.095 --> 00:00:53.315
discover the difference.
17
00:00:54.415 --> 00:00:56.880
Belief can be seen as the starting point,
18
00:00:57.440 --> 00:00:59.060
often driven by emotions,
19
00:00:59.760 --> 00:01:00.980
intuition, or
20
00:01:01.360 --> 00:01:01.860
culture.
21
00:01:02.560 --> 00:01:03.060
Understanding,
22
00:01:03.680 --> 00:01:04.180
however,
23
00:01:04.480 --> 00:01:06.580
is the end goal, a more
24
00:01:06.960 --> 00:01:09.540
structured, evidence based way of knowing
25
00:01:09.840 --> 00:01:11.460
and grasping reality.
26
00:01:12.774 --> 00:01:15.195
Transitioning from belief to understanding
27
00:01:15.814 --> 00:01:16.314
requires
28
00:01:17.015 --> 00:01:18.554
a methodical approach,
29
00:01:19.174 --> 00:01:20.314
challenging assumptions,
30
00:01:20.615 --> 00:01:21.115
and
31
00:01:21.494 --> 00:01:23.435
expanding our ability to reason
32
00:01:23.735 --> 00:01:25.594
and evaluate information.
33
00:01:26.774 --> 00:01:27.274
Belief
34
00:01:27.580 --> 00:01:28.479
is the acceptance
35
00:01:28.780 --> 00:01:29.680
or conviction
36
00:01:30.299 --> 00:01:31.520
that something is true,
37
00:01:32.220 --> 00:01:36.399
even without the necessity of evidence or deep understanding.
38
00:01:37.500 --> 00:01:40.560
Beliefs are often shaped by personal experiences,
39
00:01:41.325 --> 00:01:41.825
culture,
40
00:01:42.125 --> 00:01:42.625
upbringing,
41
00:01:43.005 --> 00:01:44.784
and emotional influences.
42
00:01:45.565 --> 00:01:48.305
They don't always require logical justification
43
00:01:48.765 --> 00:01:51.425
or empirical proof to be held as true.
44
00:01:51.965 --> 00:01:52.784
For instance,
45
00:01:53.400 --> 00:01:58.380
someone might believe in a particular religion or have certain superstitions
46
00:01:59.080 --> 00:02:01.100
without needing concrete proof.
47
00:02:02.760 --> 00:02:03.260
Understanding,
48
00:02:03.800 --> 00:02:04.780
on the other hand,
49
00:02:05.240 --> 00:02:06.620
involves a deeper
50
00:02:07.000 --> 00:02:08.060
grasp of concepts
51
00:02:08.955 --> 00:02:09.935
or truths
52
00:02:10.555 --> 00:02:11.775
that comes from
53
00:02:12.155 --> 00:02:12.655
reasoning,
54
00:02:13.115 --> 00:02:15.375
evidence, and logical analysis.
55
00:02:16.315 --> 00:02:18.255
When you understand something,
56
00:02:18.635 --> 00:02:22.270
you are able to explain it in a coherent way,
57
00:02:22.730 --> 00:02:23.470
see its
58
00:02:23.930 --> 00:02:24.430
relationships
59
00:02:24.810 --> 00:02:26.990
to other things, and often
60
00:02:27.290 --> 00:02:29.630
predict outcomes based on it.
61
00:02:30.170 --> 00:02:30.670
Understanding
62
00:02:31.210 --> 00:02:32.910
requires critical thinking
63
00:02:33.210 --> 00:02:34.750
and tends to be more
64
00:02:35.735 --> 00:02:37.595
objective compared to belief.
65
00:02:39.015 --> 00:02:41.995
Six ways to know if you only believe something
66
00:02:42.375 --> 00:02:44.795
or if you truly understand something.
67
00:02:46.135 --> 00:02:46.635
One,
68
00:02:47.735 --> 00:02:49.515
examine the depth of your knowledge.
69
00:02:50.460 --> 00:02:53.440
Often a belief can be surface level, lacking
70
00:02:54.140 --> 00:02:56.160
detailed knowledge or reasoning.
71
00:02:56.620 --> 00:02:58.800
If you hold something as true
72
00:02:59.180 --> 00:03:01.440
but struggle to explain it in-depth
73
00:03:01.980 --> 00:03:04.080
or provide clear examples,
74
00:03:05.065 --> 00:03:06.605
it's likely a belief.
75
00:03:07.225 --> 00:03:08.525
You may believe that
76
00:03:09.065 --> 00:03:11.005
hard work leads to success.
77
00:03:11.785 --> 00:03:14.525
But if asked to explain the underlying
78
00:03:15.305 --> 00:03:15.805
mechanisms,
79
00:03:16.345 --> 00:03:18.845
like why hard work specifically
80
00:03:19.770 --> 00:03:21.310
causes success in various
81
00:03:21.690 --> 00:03:22.190
contexts,
82
00:03:23.370 --> 00:03:27.950
you may find it difficult to provide an in-depth evidence based
83
00:03:28.650 --> 00:03:29.150
answer.
84
00:03:31.370 --> 00:03:33.150
If you understand something,
85
00:03:33.985 --> 00:03:35.925
you can explain it in detail,
86
00:03:36.545 --> 00:03:37.045
provide
87
00:03:38.385 --> 00:03:38.885
examples
88
00:03:39.265 --> 00:03:40.325
or evidence,
89
00:03:41.105 --> 00:03:42.885
and explore the connections
90
00:03:43.185 --> 00:03:44.325
between the concepts.
91
00:03:45.425 --> 00:03:46.325
Your understanding
92
00:03:46.864 --> 00:03:48.880
feels more like a coherent,
93
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logical framework.
94
00:03:51.020 --> 00:03:53.280
You understand how hard work
95
00:03:53.739 --> 00:03:55.040
can lead to success.
96
00:03:55.340 --> 00:03:58.080
Because you can discuss the importance of
97
00:03:58.540 --> 00:03:59.520
skill development,
98
00:04:00.459 --> 00:04:02.000
the role of persistence,
99
00:04:03.405 --> 00:04:04.305
time management,
100
00:04:05.005 --> 00:04:05.505
and
101
00:04:06.045 --> 00:04:07.185
overcoming setbacks
102
00:04:07.965 --> 00:04:08.865
with examples
103
00:04:09.325 --> 00:04:11.265
from various fields.
104
00:04:12.445 --> 00:04:16.860
So using the Bible, we can examine our depth of knowledge of it.
105
00:04:17.419 --> 00:04:19.439
Do you believe the bible is true?
106
00:04:20.139 --> 00:04:24.240
Well, the only way to know if our belief is true or false
107
00:04:24.620 --> 00:04:26.800
would be to examine it thoroughly.
108
00:04:27.419 --> 00:04:31.360
If you haven't examined it, then your belief is just a belief,
109
00:04:32.075 --> 00:04:33.055
not an understanding.
110
00:04:34.955 --> 00:04:35.455
Two,
111
00:04:36.635 --> 00:04:37.775
look for justification
112
00:04:38.395 --> 00:04:39.215
and evidence.
113
00:04:40.075 --> 00:04:43.935
Beliefs often exist without requiring proof or justification.
114
00:04:45.500 --> 00:04:46.880
They may be based on
115
00:04:47.340 --> 00:04:47.840
intuition
116
00:04:48.220 --> 00:04:48.720
or
117
00:04:49.419 --> 00:04:51.280
cultural norms or
118
00:04:52.220 --> 00:04:52.720
emotional
119
00:04:53.099 --> 00:04:53.599
attachments.
120
00:04:55.020 --> 00:04:58.815
You might believe in a political party because it's
121
00:04:59.295 --> 00:05:02.355
what you've always heard from your family or community
122
00:05:02.895 --> 00:05:03.395
without
123
00:05:04.095 --> 00:05:06.355
actually having critically examined
124
00:05:06.815 --> 00:05:08.435
the policy proposals
125
00:05:08.975 --> 00:05:10.995
or data backing them.
126
00:05:12.160 --> 00:05:12.660
Understanding
127
00:05:13.040 --> 00:05:15.860
requires solid reasoning or evidence.
128
00:05:16.480 --> 00:05:18.500
If you truly understand something,
129
00:05:18.880 --> 00:05:20.500
you can back it up with facts,
130
00:05:21.200 --> 00:05:21.700
experiments,
131
00:05:22.880 --> 00:05:25.380
or a logical progression of thought.
132
00:05:26.385 --> 00:05:27.125
You understand,
133
00:05:27.825 --> 00:05:28.885
scientific theory
134
00:05:29.585 --> 00:05:32.085
because you can explain how it fits
135
00:05:32.385 --> 00:05:33.925
within existing models,
136
00:05:34.465 --> 00:05:39.685
provides predictive power, and is supported by experiments or
137
00:05:40.610 --> 00:05:42.229
real world applications.
138
00:05:43.650 --> 00:05:46.789
So using the bible, we need to first examine it,
139
00:05:47.169 --> 00:05:48.470
then look for evidence.
140
00:05:49.250 --> 00:05:51.509
So my question to you is,
141
00:05:52.449 --> 00:05:54.965
what evidence should we be looking for?
142
00:05:55.745 --> 00:05:57.285
A belief would be considered,
143
00:05:57.745 --> 00:05:58.725
in my opinion,
144
00:05:59.345 --> 00:06:01.845
that the universe was made in six days.
145
00:06:02.385 --> 00:06:05.045
Adam and Eve were the only first humans,
146
00:06:05.665 --> 00:06:06.965
Noah and the flood,
147
00:06:07.500 --> 00:06:09.120
Sodom and Gomorrah, etcetera.
148
00:06:10.140 --> 00:06:11.200
These are examples.
149
00:06:12.140 --> 00:06:14.400
The starting points to build understanding.
150
00:06:15.260 --> 00:06:17.120
The evidence isn't finding
151
00:06:17.660 --> 00:06:19.520
genes to date back to Adam
152
00:06:19.955 --> 00:06:23.575
or deciding that the fruit of knowledge is an apple
153
00:06:24.035 --> 00:06:24.535
or
154
00:06:24.835 --> 00:06:26.615
even finding Noah's ark.
155
00:06:27.395 --> 00:06:28.135
The evidence
156
00:06:28.675 --> 00:06:29.495
in these
157
00:06:30.275 --> 00:06:32.535
are concepts your brain uses
158
00:06:33.030 --> 00:06:34.330
to understand the world,
159
00:06:34.950 --> 00:06:37.050
to build on, the structure
160
00:06:37.590 --> 00:06:40.890
to understand how to function as a human being,
161
00:06:41.350 --> 00:06:42.490
how to ask questions,
162
00:06:43.670 --> 00:06:44.890
understand consequences,
163
00:06:45.910 --> 00:06:47.210
step by step breakdowns,
164
00:06:48.455 --> 00:06:49.195
The consistency
165
00:06:49.815 --> 00:06:53.355
of each chapter that builds upon the previous chapter.
166
00:06:53.895 --> 00:06:55.355
It's not just a story,
167
00:06:55.815 --> 00:06:57.514
a history, or entertainment.
168
00:06:59.014 --> 00:07:00.955
When you understand the bible,
169
00:07:01.500 --> 00:07:03.600
you realize your belief is justified
170
00:07:04.380 --> 00:07:06.640
because of the evidence of results,
171
00:07:07.340 --> 00:07:09.840
not evidence of material items.
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Three.
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Reflect on the flexibility
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of your perspective.
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Beliefs are often rigid
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and can be emotionally charged.
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If you hold something as a belief,
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it might be harder to change,
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even when confronted with contradictory evidence.
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You may defend it passionately,
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sometimes resorting to emotional reasoning or ignoring alternative viewpoints.
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If you believe in a conspiracy theory,
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it can be difficult to entertain new information that contradicts it because it taps into your emotional
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or psychological
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need
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to defend it.
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When you understand something,
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you're more open
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to adapting your perspective
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when presented with new evidence or arguments.
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Understanding
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is dynamic.
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It grows and evolves with new information.
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You can change your mind
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without feeling threatened
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because your understanding
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is based on reason,
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not emotional attachment.
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If new evidence rises that contradicts
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a previously held scientific theory,
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you might adjust your understanding based on the new data,
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seeing it as a opportunity to refine
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your knowledge.
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So using the Bible,
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I ask you, are you flexible?
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Does it make you emotional
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or defensive
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if I say things against what you have always believed?
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If you believe the earth was made in six days,
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and I say
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I don't believe that,
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are you willing to actually examine that idea?
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Or do you default to the surface idea that to be a Christian,
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you have to believe in a young earth?
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Why does that have to be true?
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If you believe that God can do anything,
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then why are you setting limitations on him?
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Wouldn't it be more plausible that he is teaching
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lessons to you to make you more successful,
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to be a reflection
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of him
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than giving you a history lesson.
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To teach successfully,
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we give examples,
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not history.
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We teach how to do something, not show the end result.
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Showing someone a house
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does not give them the understanding of how it was built.
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If they look at the blueprints,
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the architect's idea of how it should be built,
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the step by step guidance of building it,
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then we truly appreciate the work that was put into it.
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The bible is that blueprint.
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Look at it differently.
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Find those instructions,
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not the materials.
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Does it matter if the bricks are red or white?
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Four,
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gauge your confidence level.
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Beliefs tend to create a sense of certainty
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and security.
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When you believe something, you have to feel confident in your position,
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even if the belief hasn't been fully scrutinized.
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The confidence is sometimes based on a sense of
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identity or comfort.
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You might feel certain that a certain type of diet works because it aligns with your worldview without having explored scientific studies
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to back up your belief.
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When you understand something,
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your confidence is tempered
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with awareness
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of its limitations.
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Understanding
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often comes with an appreciation
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for complexity
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and the possibility of uncertainty.
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When you understand diet recommendations,
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you might be confident
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in the overall
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evidence supporting it.
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But you're also aware that the issue is multifaceted
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with nuances
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and areas of ongoing
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research.
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By using the Bible, we can do the same thing.
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By understanding the Bible, we can see those limitations.
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We can understand it was written for a very specific people,
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in a very specific culture,
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in a very specific time.
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However,
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if you dig deeper,
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it is timeless.
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Does that mean you should follow those customs
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or learn the concepts that were presented?
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Customs
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or the concepts?
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Five,
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Check for internal consistency.
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Beliefs might not always be consistent with other beliefs you hold
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because they're often inherited
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or shaped by emotional or social factors.
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Cognitive dissonance
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can occur when beliefs clash with each other or new information.
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But it's often resolved by rationalizing
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or ignoring
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contradiction.
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You might believe in both personal responsibility
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and wealth inequality
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without reconciling how they coexist
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in shaping individual outcomes.
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Understanding
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tends to be more consistent
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because it comes from a logical framework that ties various concepts together.
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If new information contradicts an understanding,
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you might reassess
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or refine your model to account for the discrepancy.
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If you understand how wealth inequality works,
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you can integrate it with your views on personal responsibility,
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acknowledging
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that while individual
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choices matter,
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structural factors can significantly
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influence outcomes.
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If you're born rich,
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personal choices are different than if you're born poor.
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Again, by using the Bible,
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we definitely see this.
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The internal struggle is what the whole Bible is about.
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The struggle of our body
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and our mind,
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the subconscious
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and the conscious,
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material gain versus
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ethics.
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Does believing the world was made in six days improve your life,
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make you happier,
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make you successful
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or wealthy?
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Or does learning the concepts
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of how to build your own world do that?
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Six,
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notice the role of emotions.
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Beliefs are often emotionally charged.
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They can be tied to personal identity,
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group loyalty,
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or emotional comfort.
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You might defend beliefs more fiercely when they're challenged,
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not because they're logically sound, but because they provide a sense of safety
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or belonging.
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You might believe
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in a particular
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political party and feel defensive
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or angry when confronted with opposing viewpoints,
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as it feels like your attack on your own identity.
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Understanding
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00:14:47.750 --> 00:14:49.529
tends to be more intellectually
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grounded.
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While you may feel passionate about things, you understand
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your response to challenges
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is often more calm
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00:14:59.315 --> 00:15:00.214
and reasoned,
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since you've examined
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the issue
343
00:15:03.635 --> 00:15:04.775
more deeply.
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If someone challenges your understanding of a scientific theory,
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you're more likely to engage in a discussion,
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present facts,
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and be open to differing viewpoints,
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rather than becoming defensive.
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To reflect on whether you believe
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00:15:23.840 --> 00:15:25.780
or understand something,
351
00:15:26.320 --> 00:15:27.700
you can ask yourself,
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can I explain this concept clearly
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and in-depth
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to someone else?
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What evidence do I have to support this belief,
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and how would I evaluate
357
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its validity?
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Am I open to changing my view if presented with new conflicting
359
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information?
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By using this method of self inquiry,
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00:15:58.505 --> 00:16:02.285
you can better determine whether your stance is based on belief
362
00:16:02.905 --> 00:16:03.725
or understanding.
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00:16:05.225 --> 00:16:07.165
It can sometimes be difficult
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to draw the line between belief and understanding
365
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because they both influence our actions and perceptions.
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However,
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the key difference lies in-depth,
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evidence and flexibility.
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00:16:23.595 --> 00:16:26.495
Beliefs often feel more immediate and
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emotionally
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00:16:27.834 --> 00:16:28.334
charged,
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00:16:28.795 --> 00:16:29.695
while understanding
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00:16:30.395 --> 00:16:32.334
is marked by a more rational
374
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evidence based grasp of things.
375
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The pursuit of understanding
376
00:16:38.100 --> 00:16:39.000
is a journey
377
00:16:39.460 --> 00:16:40.280
of constant
378
00:16:40.820 --> 00:16:41.320
questioning
379
00:16:41.700 --> 00:16:42.920
and refinement.
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00:16:44.180 --> 00:16:44.680
Understanding
381
00:16:44.980 --> 00:16:46.120
means overcoming
382
00:16:46.420 --> 00:16:47.480
our preconceived
383
00:16:48.260 --> 00:16:48.760
beliefs
384
00:16:49.105 --> 00:16:50.565
and facing uncomfortable
385
00:16:51.025 --> 00:16:52.325
truths about ourselves
386
00:16:52.705 --> 00:16:53.605
and the world.
387
00:16:54.705 --> 00:16:56.965
The more you practice self reflection
388
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and critical thinking,
389
00:16:59.185 --> 00:17:00.485
the easier it becomes
390
00:17:00.785 --> 00:17:02.965
to distinguish between the two.
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Where do we learn these two important standards?
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The bible.
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I'm Merrill, and this is Battleground.
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Click here for more bible concepts
395
00:17:17.265 --> 00:17:20.085
and here for more granny opinions.
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00:17:21.105 --> 00:17:24.885
Subscribe and join me for an exploration of the mind.
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Goodbye.
