Eliezer, I guess if you already are asking this question you are well on your way. The real problem arises when you didn’t even manage to pinpoint the possibly false believe. And yes I was a religious person for many years before realizing that I was on the wrong way.
Why didn’t I question my faith? Well, it was so obviously true to me. The thing is: did you ever question heliocentrism? No? Why not? When you ask the question “How do I know if Heliocentrism is false?” You are already on your way. The thing is, your brain needs a certain amount of evidence to pinpoint the question.
How did I overcome my religion? I noticed that something was wrong with my worldview like seeing a deja vu in the matrix every now and then. This on an intellectual level, not as a visible thing. But much more subtle and less obvious so you really have to be attentive no notice it, to notice that there is a problem in the pattern. Things aren’t the way they should be.
But over time I became more and more aware that the pieces weren’t fitting together. But from there to arrive at the conclusion that my basic assumptions where wrong was really not easy. If you live in the matrix and see strange things happening, how will you arrive at the conclusion that this is because you are in a simulation?
Your posts on rationality were a big help, though. They always say: “Jesus will make you free.” Unfortunately that didn’t work out for me. Well, I finally am free after a decade of false believing, and during all the time I was a believer I never was as happy as I’m now.
“How do I know if long-held belief X is false?”
Eliezer, I guess if you already are asking this question you are well on your way. The real problem arises when you didn’t even manage to pinpoint the possibly false believe. And yes I was a religious person for many years before realizing that I was on the wrong way.
Why didn’t I question my faith? Well, it was so obviously true to me. The thing is: did you ever question heliocentrism? No? Why not? When you ask the question “How do I know if Heliocentrism is false?” You are already on your way. The thing is, your brain needs a certain amount of evidence to pinpoint the question.
How did I overcome my religion? I noticed that something was wrong with my worldview like seeing a deja vu in the matrix every now and then. This on an intellectual level, not as a visible thing. But much more subtle and less obvious so you really have to be attentive no notice it, to notice that there is a problem in the pattern. Things aren’t the way they should be.
But over time I became more and more aware that the pieces weren’t fitting together. But from there to arrive at the conclusion that my basic assumptions where wrong was really not easy. If you live in the matrix and see strange things happening, how will you arrive at the conclusion that this is because you are in a simulation?
Your posts on rationality were a big help, though. They always say: “Jesus will make you free.” Unfortunately that didn’t work out for me. Well, I finally am free after a decade of false believing, and during all the time I was a believer I never was as happy as I’m now.