Belief and disbelief are nearly the same thing, disbelief simply being the belief that something does not exist or is not true. And yet, there is one fundamental difference I will address in a minute.
Most of what each believes is based on personal experience. Even if we are misinterpreting an experience, we are basing our belief (or disbelief) on the experiences we have had, have witnessed, or have not had. But much that we believe is also based on what we’ve been told.
These days, far too many will tell you they “saw it with their own eyes” referring to seeing something on TV or via a screen. That, however, is not truly seeing or experiencing because, in this digit age, the technology is so advanced, it allows others to fabricate (fake) video, audio, or photos that are hard to detect.
Furthermore, seeing graphic or disturbing images through screens can be traumatizing. Because of this, we can feel as if the events happened to us. It can also trigger or reignite PTSD from our own past traumas.
I think it is important for each of us (myself included) to continually distinguish between what we actually witness in real life from that which we experience through a screen.
Getting back to my earlier statement, the fundamental difference between belief and disbelief is that one can never prove a negative. You might live your entire life never having encountered a horned toad, but that is not proof that they don’t exist. One real life encounter with the creature absolutely proves the fact that they do exist.
My life has been a living catch-22. From other people’s perspective, I am seen as believing all sorts of things that they don’t believe in, two long standing examples being the ability to receive information about the future before it happens and the ability to communicate with people after they have died.
People who judge me, and they do, completely dismiss or deny my real life experiences, perhaps because they have none of their own to draw from.
But here is the catch-22: when I share my real life experiences to support the ideas I discuss, I am accused of either bragging or selling/promoting bullshit (also called conspiracy theories). I have even been recently accused, in a judging tone, of trying to be an “influencer” and claiming to be smarter than others.
About four years ago, I made the decision to share my thoughts (regarding a whole host of subjects) on Facebook. I openly question many of the narratives being promoted on TV by so called authority figures. In near all cases, I share data—videos or documents—giving others the opportunity to look into it or not. I passionately encourage people to look into things, but not from a position of authority.
My life experiences have lead me to this place: rejecting the “authority” of people on TV. The stories they recite defy logic; they sell things that do not adhere to the known laws of physics; and time and again, their claims are later proven false. Furthermore, so much of what they claim is not supported by any actual evidence other than the word of other authority figures. Trust the Science™️! Trust the Experts™️!
The specific individuals who more or less accuse me of believing in bullshit are actually the ones who are more in the blind faith column. My belief is informed by evidence and/or experience. Their disbelief is supported by the opinion of others and a lack of experience. As I stated above, the lack of evidence does not and can never prove a negative.
I may initially entertain an idea with open-minded skepticism, but I also let go of ideas that I cannot verify, prove, or find evidence of. I don’t then deny them; I don’t disbelieve them; I simply move to an increased level of skepticism until information or experience moves me back toward it.
I have hundreds of life experiences that prove to me that various forms of psychic abilities exist. I have my own experiences and the ones I have witnessed first hand from others. One is free to think what they want. In fact, anyone who is in my life is free to judge me, but if one does that to my face, they will be called out on it.
All the above applies to so called conspiracy theories as well. I have looked into these and have seen compelling data and logic. Again my belief is informed belief.
Me questioning the narratives being shoved down our throats is not an attack on any people in my life...not even those who still believe these narratives.
It is worth noting that I consider these different:
being educated,
being smart, and
being informed.
Education is information coming to you through authority. If you are not willing to look at information outside of the main stream, you may be educated, but you are not fully informed. You might be well extremely smart, but you are self-censoring. In fact, I will argue that you are thus not expressing your own opinion, but the opinion of those main stream authoritative others. You believe them just because they are on TV or wear a white lab coat. I do not. Just because someone appears accomplished doesn’t mean they go to where they are through legitimate talent or effort.
Most people do not have the interest (or time) to look outside of the (quote from a friend) “real world”. That is a choice. That is not my choice. I am well aware of what the authority figures in the “real world” advise and promote. I also see (take in) many perspectives that lie outside of said real world. I always have. Furthermore, I have tested out my personal theories and have been accumulating plenty of success.
Over the past 4 decades, I have received subtle psychic impressions about certain public figures or events. These experiences often made no sense at the time they first came in, but since 2020 are beginning to be confirmed...not officially yet, but seemingly moving in that direction.
When I share an experience, and a friend tells me that I am trying to sell something they don’t believe in, they fail to recognized that they are also saying that they don’t believe me. They don’t believe my experience. They either think I am a nut case or a liar.
I do not judge people for their decisions. As much as I suspect there are villainous, evil actors in governments and corporations, and express this publicly, that is not judging those of you who, acting in faith, did what you thought was the right thing to do. And yet, those who accuse me of being selfish are judging my actions. They are measuring my actions with their beliefs, which are incompatible. I get it. But that is not correct math.
When I consider the actions of others, whatever they may be, I consider those actions from their perspective, not mine. I may judge an action as harmful (to self or others), but that is not the same thing as judging the person to took those actions ignorantly or unknowingly or unintendingly (not intending the results that occurred).
I know that nearly everyone in my life does not want to hurt others or themselves. But sometimes, we need to learn what is poisonous so we can stop ingesting (or injecting) it.
Clif High believes (through the evidence of his work) that we are approaching a time when the public, on a massive scale, will lose all faith in authority. This includes politicians, doctors, teachers, CEOs, the main stream media, and full institutions and industries. I don’t know if I share his prediction, but I can imagine it happening. If only a few of my suspicions are proven true, it could catalyze significant disruption.
I guess we’ll see...