This book is about thoughts, thinking, and beliefs, and we started by discussing the inner human and how it is designed and functions in order to form the basis for a deeper understanding of the subject. Now we are at the point where we can discuss what thoughts and thinking are, and how thoughts and thinking become beliefs. Thinking does not necessarily result in beliefs. And thoughts are not always thinking, and thinking does not necessarily result in cogent thoughts. But what does all this mean, and why do we care so much about beliefs?
Beliefs are acceptance of the validity of someone, something, or some concept. When a person forms a belief, it sets a policy which guides the soul's future thinking. Therefore beliefs set boundaries for future decisions about the world around us, spiritual issues, and anything which becomes important to us. Beliefs drive and motivate people to action. And belief is what God requires of humans if they are to have eternal salvation. That issue alone makes beliefs the most important issue in life, because it determines our eternal status. By comparison nothing else comes close.
We need to first examine how beliefs are formed. Then we will see how most lower level beliefs are driven by the higher level beliefs, called core beliefs. After that is understood, we will look at the issue of internal soul distortions as related to beliefs. We are getting into some very weighty territory, so let us start by examining how humans know anything at all, how they learn, and therefore how core beliefs are developed. That could require a separate book, so we will only summarize the issues here.
People generally learn information in one of four basic ways: 1) by empirical sensory information (sight, smell, taste, sound, feel, etc.), 2) by memorizing and mimicking, 3) by accepting information as it is provided by others (called "faith"), and 4) by concluding something on one's own based on comparison, research, experimentation or rational reasoning (developing new information). There are variations of each, and we are not trying to be all inclusive. We will look at each of these basic methods of learning, and how they affect beliefs.
Most human learning comes through empirical data, and the senses provide that empirical data regarding the things seen, heard, felt, tasted, and smelled. Therefore most of the data and information which enters the soul comes in empirically through the senses and the brain. But the senses teach very little about what is behind the things sensed. For instance, were the things around us created by God or was it all just an accident of nature? The senses cannot provide an answer. They just show us what is around us. Although the senses provide most of the brain-to-soul inputs, and set expectations about what will be encountered, they generally do not form core beliefs, they simply provide sensory data which allows us to interact physically with the universe. Knowing not to put one's hand into a fire is important information, but not a core belief, just pain avoidance and self-preservation.
When it comes to the type of learning which has the most impact on core beliefs, the majority comes from accepting information presented by others, namely by faith. Faith is not limited to religion, not even close to it. Schools are a faith-based method of learning, with an occasional lab for demonstrations to the senses. Faith is accepting the authority of another to convey information as related to learning. The ultimate authority is the Bible, but also schools, books, friends, internet sites, media, and other sources of information are also faith-based learning when the information is accepted. Even random conversations with strangers who have no facts can be faith-based learning if the information is accepted as true, and this happens regularly. When it comes to believing information by faith, the hazard is in the accuracy, or lack thereof, of the messenger. Often faith-based learning is contradictory, with one person saying one thing and another saying the opposite, so choices must be made. Whether true or false, or a mixture of the two, humans accept most of what leads to their core beliefs during their lifetime by faith, however most do not realize the degree to which they relied on faith to come to their present state of core beliefs.
Developing new information on one's own is the rarest type of learning. It is determining "truth" by using rational thinking or inductive reasoning. Of course, the results are not always actually "true," which is the hazard of this type of learning process. This type of thinking is only possible after the soul has learned many things through empirical data and has accepted by faith many things which were taught. It is what Albert Einstein and other great thinkers were famous for doing. Then one must ask why that information is accurate, and Einstein was often inaccurate as was later learned. Humans learn very little by rationalism, which requires deep thought about a subject and drawing new conclusions which have not been previously learned. Regarding proof of one's own rational thought conclusions, that can be difficult. Although rational and inductive thought sounds very scientific, it is also how people come to irrational conclusions which are actually mysticism or other types of false opinions.
Therefore humans develop core beliefs in different ways, but mainly through faith. Those core beliefs may be true, partially true, or false, usually based on the source of the information, and whether it was accurate or not. For those who form a core belief based on the Bible and being a believer, they may use the Bible as their ultimate source of truth when it comes to core beliefs. So also people who believe in other religions rely on whatever their source documents contain. Those who reject religion tend to gravitate toward an eclectic belief system which has some other source of meaning other than God or a god. For some it is family, work, making money, friendships, helping others, hobbies and interests, pleasure seeking, or a mix of some or all of these. Most people try to find some meaning in life, some reason for their existence. But some think only about self, which leads to distorted beliefs about one's own importance relative to others. Because the Bible is the ultimate source of truth, if it is rejected everything else becomes an attempt to find some level of "what works" as their truth and meaning in life apart from God. Although it is an inaccurate approach, it is the one used most often by humans.
We have seen how core beliefs are firmly held views about important things which in turn drive how we think about the world, God, the divine order on earth, and anything important to us. This is where the human soul and spirit come into play. As noted previously, the human soul is imparted at birth, but is empty of information. If the person eventually becomes a believer, the human spirit is regenerated at that point, and it is also empty and requires filling. Information taken into the soul is processed and stored, then the person uses it to form core beliefs over time based on what they have learned mixed with individual biases and preferences. This in turn drives how a person perceives the world and all subsequent information they receive, and also what they care about. These core beliefs are usually in categories, with each person having a set of beliefs about values, God, relationships, politics, society, and practically everything of interest in life. These build up norms and standards in the Conscience of the soul, which are then used to evaluate and judge things to be good or bad, moral or immoral. And a Conscience can be either correct or incorrect depending on what is put into it, and can allow a person to disregard the truth if not properly developed with accurate information.
Beliefs related to most issues are centered in the Heart of the soul, except that the human spirit contains Biblical spiritual beliefs. For non-spiritual beliefs the entire soul is involved in developing them, especially core beliefs, then they ultimately reside in the Heart. And the human spirit develops spiritual beliefs with assistance from the soul. The Mind figures things out within certain parameters using those underlying beliefs and assumptions built up in the soul to that point. The outputs (conclusions, knowledge and understandings) of the Mind are not always correct, logical, or make sense in view of the facts of the universe, they just make sense in view of the filters, biases, etc. which have been established inside the individual soul. Therefore this "logical" component of the soul can be entirely illogical, and the beliefs which come from the Mind and its thinking process can also be illogical and wrong. And incorrect beliefs can be more easily "hardened" into the soul, creating inflexibility since they do not align with truth or reality, which creates internal conflict.
Consider teenagers for a moment. They learn and accept many things prior to their teen years, but when they reach their teens they start to question many issues, and also to question the sources of information, especially from their parents. They seek to find a belief system which will establish them as adults, sometimes when they are not prepared to do so. At this point rebellion in the soul can upset fragile beliefs, but they are not necessarily replaced right away. Or if they are, the process is often not logical or well considered. This is a critical stage for a human, and some never recover from such a destruction of logical beliefs. But some just need time to sort it all out, and maybe a few hard knocks to wake them up. If they can learn Bible truths early and stick with them through these teen years, they are most likely to make it through with minimal damage. If not, the results are more random.
There are two general methods of corroborating what we have learned and believe to be true, and both are established by God. There is common sense, which lines up with what the universe reveals to us, and there is absolute truth, which is revealed by God in the Bible. God designed the universe to reveal to people the proper way to live, even for unbelievers. The universe provides feedback loops to encourage and discourage certain types of behaviors, shows what works over and over again, and what does not work. Some things have good outcomes, and some things bad outcomes. Responsible behavior, hard work, fair play, and good manners are generally rewarded, and irresponsibility in these areas is generally punished. Of course there are random outcomes and unfairness, but generally people learn that certain types of behaviors repeat with certain types of outcomes. Then there is the truth from the Word of God, and that is absolute truth. Believers have faith in God that the Bible is truth, and that is part of our belief system. If we grow in the Word the Holy Spirit provides a spiritual feedback loop which demonstrates to us that our faith was correctly placed in the Word, and our faith is justified to us over time. Therefore common sense and the Word of God both serve to keep us in line with reality and truth, if we choose to center our belief systems on them.
However, the origin of the universe and many things related to God are not provable because God does not want them to be provable, since He requires us to live by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7) Non-creationists believe in the unbelievable, making enormous leaps of faith across great chasms to come to conclusions which are entirely unsupported, yet they claim that science is on their side. It is often a fanatical core belief for them, because they fear the alternative if they are wrong. However they change their unproven theories constantly, basing core beliefs on a set of ever changing theories which are unprovable. Additionally, the lines between scientific proof and computer models have become blurred in order to declare something scientifically proven, when the outcome of models is by definition not proof, but is based on variable assumptions fed into the models by fallible and biased humans using limited information. If the researcher knew enough to fully feed a model, then the model would not be needed since the issue would be self-proving.
People who reject God and the Bible must by definition accept something else to believe in. Once they reject God they can easily accept irrational theories regarding how the material universe started with nothing, then developed from nothing into something, then that something became what the universe is now. By any definition that is a succession of miracles, making such a belief system a religion. So unbelievers do believe in miracles after all, since the probability of this happening has been calculated as being zero. Literally zero over infinity. Such theories require an unbeliever to have far more faith than Christians who believe in God and believe the Bible that Jesus Christ is the only Savior.
Unbelievers cannot prove the alternative theories they accept which form their core beliefs so they must accept most of them by faith, yet they seek to deny this and call it science. Therefore science is a god to them, and the primary statement of their faith is that given enough time anything is possible. That faith of unbelievers can be very strong, and they can believe things which are unbelievable, and do so with no proof whatsoever even though many of them insist proof is required to believe anything. Oddly, this does not dissuade most of them from their belief systems, even though the truth from God's Word is much easier to believe since it makes much more sense. The universe itself is testimony to the existence of God and to what the Bible reveals, and these things support our faith. Therefore the faith of believers is far more logical than the faith of unbelievers. Our corroborating evidence is revealed in the universe, and also in the results we see from God working through believers, which also supports what the Bible reveals. Romans 8:16 says "The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children." Our faith is not blind, but the faith of unbelievers in what they believe is truly blind and even foolishness.
Recall how the soul components interact like a committee to "figure out" or "ponder" an issue brought in by the senses, or by a question internal to the soul. That is the thinking process, which consists of thoughts searching for a conclusion. We have seen how the Mind of the soul is the overall engine of thinking, and thoughts are the sub-components of thinking. Generally speaking, a thought is formed, which is considered by the thinking process, and a circular process of thoughts and thinking occurs until conclusions are reached, which are eventually presented to the Heart for a decision. And that process may lead to a new belief if a conclusion can be reached on an issue which has been accepted as true.
To expand on this explanation, as the Mind tries to figure things out, it turns to its subordinates the Conscience and Memory to guide it in their specific areas of expertise during the thinking process. Existing beliefs in the Heart are used as guidelines and policies, which often sets the boundaries on the thinking process. The Mind, Conscience, and Memory may have inputs which form new thoughts and more thinking. The Emotion may become involved, and if the person is a believer, the human spirit will also be asked for input. When the Mind has a final work product about the issue, it is presented to the Heart for review and consideration. The Heart will then review the work product of the Mind and either approve it, reject it, or send it back for additional consideration. That entire process is called "thinking." The individual parts of the thinking process are called "thoughts." While the person is engaged in thinking about the issue, such thinking can be all over the place, from mere musings to scientific and mathematical evaluations. If the subject being considered requires an acceptance about an important matter, when the Heart makes a final decision on acceptability, a new belief can be formed by that acceptance.
If we believe something, it becomes part of the soul's belief system, ranked from high level core beliefs down to low level beliefs, which also corresponds to the level of importance we place on them and how easily they could be changed or ignored. The primary location for beliefs is the Heart, and if related to determining good vs. bad then also in the Conscience. But the entire soul will also be affected by a belief. If something is believed, the Mind accepts the technical aspects of it, the Conscience accepts it as consistent with its standards, the Emotion either responds favorably or does not react against it, the Memory does not have conflicting memories which would reject it, and the Heart accepts the overall concept or issue as its final decision on the matter. So it is acceptance by the Heart which turns the thoughts and thinking process into a belief, and an overall belief system is built up over time. The most important high level beliefs form the core belief system, those beliefs a person holds to most firmly. From that point on the core beliefs drive what will be believed in the future, especially regarding things which either oppose or support a major core belief. So the most powerful part of one's belief system are the core beliefs, those which we hold to tightly, deeply, and tenaciously.
Core beliefs can be many things, which depends on the individual. Religion is a major core belief, if one is accepted and believed. Most Christians make it their most significant core belief. So also for people who believe in other religions. Taking religion as an example, for those who hold one in high regard, it will usually have a strong influence on the development of new beliefs. There are, of course, those who generally accept a religion but then live as though it is unimportant, or pick and choose what parts are accepted, so there are certainly exceptions. But in general, beliefs which oppose a deeply held core religious belief will usually be quickly rejected and disbelieved. Those which support it will likely be readily accepted. This shows how core beliefs can drive what is possible to believe in the future, setting boundaries of acceptability. When something is in conflict, it would be rare to make a convincing argument which would be accepted, even if the logic is detailed and inescapable. Of course, this can work for good or bad in the life.
Most decisions by the Heart do not form new beliefs, but rather are routine decisions about many mundane issues. However, when beliefs are formed in the Heart, they sometimes replace old beliefs, although they can also be entirely new beliefs. These may be low level beliefs, which most are, or those of moderate importance, or the few higher order core beliefs. The higher the belief in the order of importance in the soul, the more strongly it influences the thinking process. The key to beliefs is that a decision by the Heart on a key or foundational issue forms a new policy for the soul to live by. Acceptance means the Heart has approved the issue as the policy of the soul. Decisions about a belief set a precedent for future thoughts and thinking, which continues unless that belief is overturned by new thinking on the matter. Low level beliefs are more easily changed than higher level beliefs, as some of the most important high level ones become core beliefs which drive the soul's thinking process into alignment with them since they drive and motivate the person most strongly.
An example of how thoughts, thinking and beliefs go together would be helpful. We will use a fairly routine, although important, decision process related to needing a new automobile. The current one is old and showing signs of wearing out. The question is posed internally to the soul, and maybe among others, should we buy a new vehicle, and what would we buy?
The question in the soul initiates a thinking process about a new vehicle, and this process will require new data and information which the soul does not already possess. The soul then engages the brain to bring in sensory data from the available sources. Advertising, automotive reviews, cost comparisons, Uncle Frank, and other data sources provide inputs. As the data is retrieved by the brain, this data goes to the Mind, since it is what figures things out in the soul. Photos are reviewed, and reports are read about customer satisfaction. Uncle Frank's inputs are dismissed, since he drives an old beat-up land yacht. Sedan vs. SUV vs. pickup truck are considered, as are many details such as gasoline vs. electric, cost comparisons, options, and everything which goes into this complicated process. The Mind searches its subordinate Memory and Conscience. Memory rules out the brand owned decades ago where the engine quit after only 25,000 miles. For some people the Conscience may want an electric, so the Mind considers it in relation to cost, convenience, and other factors. The sensory data is turned into information in the soul, and more data and information are needed and obtained over the ensuing weeks. This process goes around and around as the Mind narrows the search for a new vehicle. Then the Mind presents the best options to the Heart for a decision. The Heart requests inputs from others involved, especially the spouse. Inputs are received and the Mind goes back to work on the changed parameters from the spouse. Further narrowing of the search occurs. The options are considered internally to the soul. The Emotion wants a red one. The spouse wants a black one. An impasse occurs. The Mind tries to find a way to break the impasse. It is discovered the red one costs more. The black one becomes more attractive to both. The semi-final product is sent to the Heart. Costs are reviewed again. A black SUV of a specific brand with certain options under a maximum price ceiling becomes the decision. It is available at the local dealer. The vehicle purchase is made.
All this should seem like a fairly reasonable process. But which parts were the thoughts, thinking, and beliefs?
A thought occurred about purchasing a new vehicle based on sensory inputs from the existing aging vehicle. This started a thinking process about buying a new vehicle. This would become a serious issue due to its cost and long term commitment. The Mind took charge of the process, since it is the logical soul component which figures things out, and the deep thinker of the soul which coordinates the entire process with other soul components, especially with the Heart. There were numerous variables, some of them in conflict. Cost conflicted with desired options, so cost-benefit analyses needed to be performed. Color choice must be coordinated between at least two people in this example. A long process of reviewing the variables and accumulating data occurs during the thinking stage. New thoughts are introduced along the way. Maybe an electric car, hybrid, body styles, and other potential choices are considered. Thoughts and thinking go hand in hand, as one begets the other in a circular process. Thoughts are about specific issues, and thinking is the process of considering all the thoughts, which also forms new thoughts which might include interim conclusions on some of the issues. Along the way low level beliefs are formed by the Heart as it supervises and reviews progress. One might be that the budget must not exceed a certain amount. That becomes a belief which forms a parameter. Parameters limit options and set boundaries. Eventually the circle of thoughts, thinking, new thoughts, and rethinking yields more firm interim conclusions, ultimately leading to a semi-final conclusion, which is still just a thought, although a high level one, until it is accepted. The revised conclusion is accepted by the Heart as a final decision on the matter. Acceptance of that final thought by a decision turns it into a belief regarding what is best for the family. So that is finally put to rest. On to the next issue. The two kids are nearing college age. Oh no! Should we really have bought that new vehicle? And on it goes in the soul, which never gets a rest from thoughts, thinking, and decisions about what to believe.
Granted, this is a description of how lower and mid-level beliefs are used when thoughts and thinking occur regarding an important, but not life altering, issue. Our higher level core beliefs, which are life altering due to their impact, are generally developed over a longer time and usually with more introspective consideration, and were not in view in this illustration. But sometimes a person can come to a dramatic shift in high level core beliefs in a short time.
Salvation belief is an example of a dramatic shift in core beliefs, and the most important one a person can make. An unbeliever can hear the gospel message about how Jesus Christ died for the sins of all people, which is taken into the Mind of the soul and becomes a thought about salvation by faith in Christ. If it is not immediately rejected, usually due to an existing and conflicting belief system, the Mind will begin a thinking process to determine if it should be accepted. That process can be rather short or occur over a long period of time, as the issue is thought about at certain times, maybe when someone close to them dies. But there is a difference with the gospel. The Holy Spirit becomes involved and helps the unbeliever with the thought and thinking process by making the salvation message clear, bringing them to the point of belief, or no belief. With the help of the Holy Spirit a person hears enough correct gospel information to be able to understand the issues related to salvation, and is able to make this important decision in an intensified way. But the free will of the individual inside the Heart must decide, so the Holy Spirit does not interfere with that, but instead makes the information understandable. Internal soul resistance can be intense. Previous beliefs can get in the way, such as believing that being a good person is enough to save a person, or inability to conceive that an afterlife exists, or many other beliefs which distract or conflict from the main issue. The Emotion may see this as a threat to living a lust-based life, which it rather enjoys. Thoughts and beliefs about many other issues may interfere. So the person must make a decision about salvation, whether to accept it (belief) or reject it outright, or by delay, saying "I'll think about that later." And failure to make a decision is itself a decision. If salvation by faith in Christ is never accepted, then it is rejected by default, and the consequences are the same as an outright rejection.
The Bible makes the issue clear that a single belief, the belief in Jesus Christ as Savior, provides eternal salvation. Not thoughts about Him, and not thinking about Him. But rather belief in Him. This is the single most important issue where thoughts and thinking must be turned into a belief. Belief is acceptance, while thoughts and thinking can simply be musings about the issue with no real conclusion or acceptance. Thoughts about salvation do not save a person. Thinking about how Jesus Christ was a real person who did some good deeds long ago and was executed on a cross does not save a person. Only a belief, which is acceptance, that Jesus Christ is one's Savior, can be used by the Holy Spirit to lock in eternal salvation. Thoughts and thinking about Jesus Christ must result in a decision to believe in Christ as Savior to make salvation a reality. It is the belief which saves, not the thoughts or thinking process. It is our beliefs which matter. For every human who ever exists, this one decision about a single belief is the most important one they will make in life.
Salvation by faith in Jesus Christ is the only way God can offer eternal life to any human. It is a free gift from God, because He did all the work, and He offers it to all humans since we are helpless to save ourselves. But it must be accepted, meaning believed, since belief is acceptance. "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved." (Acts 16:31) "For it is by grace you are saved through faith." (Ephesians 2:8) Believing is faith, which is acceptance of Jesus Christ as Savior. At the moment of belief the human spirit becomes regenerated, and that is the event which makes us a spiritual being and locks in our eternal salvation. Forever.
We can see that salvation by faith alone is not as simple as it might seem. God requires that we accept Him through the salvation work of Jesus Christ. He has made it the only way. Each person must make this decision, and that single belief or lack of belief will determine the eternal status of every human who ever lives.