Knowing vs. Believing.<\/p>\n
Just sit and think about that for a while.<\/p>\n
This is a topic I know I need to post more about. I think about it all the FREAKING time.<\/p>\n
How do I know when I know something? How do I know when it’s a belief? What’s the difference? <\/p>\n
This post is one that first started me thinking<\/a> about the differences between knowing and believing. This book<\/a>, on a similar topic, was also tremendously helpful for me to understand the same differences. And I’m not just talking about spirituality here, though I realize that’s the context of both of these links above. I wish it wasn’t. But if you really sit and think about it for more than 5 min, you will see that this is true for everything, every topic known to mankind. When do you believe? And when do you actually know<\/strong>?<\/p>\n They are different. <\/p>\n There are some things we know. Other things, we believe. <\/p>\n Often, it is a fine line. But they are oh-so-different.<\/p>\n There are some things — many things — I know that I have no proof of. This presents difficulty, particularly for my left-brained friends who want answers and logic and evidence and numbered, colour-coded links to all Things. These are the things that shakti describes<\/a> as feelings or inner guidance. This is TRUE. This happens to me ALL THE TIME. There are things I just know<\/strong>. Often people don’t believe me because there is little evidence to support my assertions. But I just know. And I am always right, when I know, which astonishes and frustrates people to no end (particularly my family). But over time, when you get more acquainted with me, you learn that I just know things. And I know<\/em> them.<\/p>\n I am intuitive. There are things that I know, that come to me, in ways I can’t understand or explain. It’s not all things, either. I’m not psychic. (Wait – am I?) But I am intuitive. If I tell you that I know something, I am not making it up. I am not telling you what I believe, or think, or feel to be true. It is a knowing. This is totally different from believing.<\/p>\n I have beliefs too. And I recognize that my beliefs are less solid than what I know. This is okay. I am comfortable with believing even in the scope of knowing, depending on what we are talking about. But generally, I’m comfortable with that instability or vagueness. “Maybe” can be good.<\/p>\n When it comes to religion and spirituality, there is very little that we as a whole society or race can know. But there are lots of things to believe. And I 100% whole-heartedly feel there is room for most or all of those beliefs to co-exist. They *have* to co-exist — because most of us don’t know! \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n Some people *do* know. This is truth. Some people have had experiences which lead them to knowing about their religion and spirituality. Some people claim to have met and experienced Jesus or God or a Saint or some other deity or prophet. I do not not<\/em> believe these people. I can’t doubt someone when s\/he says s\/he KNOWS…. because I know all kinds of things that others doubt me over all the time.<\/p>\n So… if others know… and most don’t… that is okay with me. I think there is room for all of belief and knowing in the world.<\/p>\n (I realize this post is quite cerebral. I feel like I will be following this up at some point. Lots to digest here.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Knowing vs. Believing. Just sit and think about that for a while. This is a topic I know I need to post more about. I think about it all the FREAKING time. How do I know when I know something? How do I know when it’s a belief? What’s the differenc… Continue reading