Website owner: James Miller
Assumptions, beliefs, and opinions underlie conduct and behavior
Assumptions, beliefs, and opinions underlie attitudes, outlooks, and values which, in turn, underlie conduct and behavior. First comes the understructure of assumptions, beliefs, etc. Then comes the consequent attitudes, outlooks, and values. Then comes a consequent type of conduct and behavior. Example. Christian assumptions, beliefs, etc. create a particular way of thinking that gives rise to an understructure of attitudes, outlooks, and values. These then give rise to one kind of conduct and behavior. Godless assumptions, beliefs, etc. create a very different way of thinking that produces a very different understructure of attitudes, outlooks, and values and a very different kind of conduct and behavior. If a person at some time in his life comes to the honest opinion that there is no God, no heaven or hell, and no final justice, this will tend to produce certain attitudes, outlooks, and values and certain types of conduct. On the other hand, if a person is totally convinced in his mind that there is a God, there is a heaven and a hell, and there is final justice, then this will produce a very different structure of attitudes, outlooks and values and very different kinds of conduct. Another example. Suppose a child is of the opinion that it is important to always tell the truth and never lie. This assumption becomes the basis for a certain set of attitudes, outlooks and values and a certain way of thinking and certain consequent kinds of behavior. On the other hand, if a child becomes of the definite opinion that the best way to deal with life is to lie and deceive whenever it seems expedient, then this opinion becomes the basis for a very different set of attitudes, outlooks and values and certain consequent kinds of behavior.
Thus different assumptions and beliefs can produce very different kinds of mind and character. If a young child is indoctrinated in atheism in the school he attends this will tend to produce one kind of person. If he is indoctrinated in the beliefs of Christianity in his school this will tend to produce a very different kind of person.
The sum total of all of our assumptions and beliefs that we acquire over the years creates a particular substructure of attitudes, outlooks and values. These, in turn, result in certain kinds of behavior and conduct.
What determines the assumptions, beliefs and opinions of a person? I think that for about 99% of people their assumptions, beliefs and opinions are determined by the society in which they are immersed. The vast majority of people simply follow the crowd, assume the assumptions, beliefs, outlooks and attitudes of the crowd. They pick up the assumptions, beliefs, outlooks and attitudes of the culture that surrounds them and when cultural ideas and attitudes change, theirs change also. I think most people do little real thinking themselves. They assume the assumptions and beliefs of others. If the society at large is broken into groups, such as conservative and liberal, they assume the beliefs of the group they are most attracted to, for one reason or another. In regard to ideas, people seek the safety of others and are unwilling to be very different. Most people don’t want to be viewed as a radical. They don’t want to have any beliefs that are out of date, out of style, or that they believe to be frowned on or scorned. No one wishes to risk being laughed at or ridiculed. What determines the assumptions, beliefs and opinions of the society at large? The mass media (television, radio, newspapers, magazines, etc.). Hollywood. Churches. Schools. Government propaganda, governmental legislation.
June 2016
Jesus Christ and His Teachings
Way of enlightenment, wisdom, and understanding
America, a corrupt, depraved, shameless country
On integrity and the lack of it
The test of a person's Christianity is what he is
Ninety five percent of the problems that most people have come from personal foolishness
Liberalism, socialism and the modern welfare state
The desire to harm, a motivation for conduct
On Self-sufficient Country Living, Homesteading
Topically Arranged Proverbs, Precepts, Quotations. Common Sayings. Poor Richard's Almanac.
Theory on the Formation of Character
People are like radio tuners --- they pick out and listen to one wavelength and ignore the rest
Cause of Character Traits --- According to Aristotle
We are what we eat --- living under the discipline of a diet
Avoiding problems and trouble in life
Role of habit in formation of character
Personal attributes of the true Christian
What determines a person's character?
Love of God and love of virtue are closely united
Intellectual disparities among people and the power in good habits
Tools of Satan. Tactics and Tricks used by the Devil.
The Natural Way -- The Unnatural Way
Wisdom, Reason and Virtue are closely related
Knowledge is one thing, wisdom is another
My views on Christianity in America
The most important thing in life is understanding
We are all examples --- for good or for bad
Television --- spiritual poison
The Prime Mover that decides "What We Are"
Where do our outlooks, attitudes and values come from?
Sin is serious business. The punishment for it is real. Hell is real.
Self-imposed discipline and regimentation
Achieving happiness in life --- a matter of the right strategies
Self-control, self-restraint, self-discipline basic to so much in life