So, someone had this question asked to them, and they put it out there to all of us. There were several good answers. Mine is a bit long. Thought I'd post it here and see what you all thought.
Many people really believe that the earth was created in six days and is about 6-10 thousand years old, and they believe that all living things were created in their current form during that process. Now, just believing that, for personal consumption, may not be ‘harmful’, unless one considers that the children taught this can Never get a graduate degree in most sciences; will be severely limited in their career choices, and will see much of the current world as “magic”. BUT, the Real and Actual Harm, is that many of these people are now in elected office, where they can pass laws based on their religious beliefs. They have NO qualms about forcing the general public to adhere to rules based on their religion. They actively seek to deny rights to people… citizens… who do not hold their same beliefs. In Texas the State Board of Education has been trying for years to do away with science and replace it with myth and superstition. They have been largely thwarted, thanks to loud public outcry, but now have in place some history books which suggest that Moses was a major influence in the creation of the nation. If they been successful, and are in other states, those children will be useless in scientific endeavors of the future. America will fall further behind than it already is in the global realm of medicine, technology, and myriad other fields. There is Real Harm.
Similarly, many people Really Believe that vaccines cause harm. This was a myth, started by a shyster doctor, who has since admitted he lied. Yet many people do not vaccinate their kids. As a result, cases of measles, rubella and other previously near-extinct diseases are on the rise. Several have died. THERE is Real Harm.
People believing that crystals under the bed, aligning your chakra, rubbing some bacon on it, using cannabis oil on your skin cancer, and a hundred other BS things cause Real and Actual Harm Every Day. Sadly, it’s usually their kids that suffer and die from these sincerely held beliefs. Every Sunday, in churches all over the country, preachers preach that homosexuals should be stoned. Stoned! Others just think they should be jailed, or killed. Christians from the US have influenced laws in several countries in Africa which have put in place such laws! There is Real Harm.
Belief that who one loves and has sex with offends some mythical magic man, has caused hundreds to be killed, beaten, or just not allowed to live their lives according to their own beliefs, which harm no one.
So, YES! There IS harm in believing wrong things, things which cause one to make bad decisions that hurt others.
The End
Q: "What's the harm in believing something if you believe it's true?"
My A:
Some people really believe that if their child comes down with diabetes, cancer, etc., they do not need to see a doctor.
They actually believe they can just pray and the child will be ok. One couple
just got 10 years in prison after killing their SECOND child this way. Their
other kids are now in the foster system. That's Real Harm.
Many people really believe that the earth was created in six days and is about 6-10 thousand years old, and they believe that all living things were created in their current form during that process. Now, just believing that, for personal consumption, may not be ‘harmful’, unless one considers that the children taught this can Never get a graduate degree in most sciences; will be severely limited in their career choices, and will see much of the current world as “magic”. BUT, the Real and Actual Harm, is that many of these people are now in elected office, where they can pass laws based on their religious beliefs. They have NO qualms about forcing the general public to adhere to rules based on their religion. They actively seek to deny rights to people… citizens… who do not hold their same beliefs. In Texas the State Board of Education has been trying for years to do away with science and replace it with myth and superstition. They have been largely thwarted, thanks to loud public outcry, but now have in place some history books which suggest that Moses was a major influence in the creation of the nation. If they been successful, and are in other states, those children will be useless in scientific endeavors of the future. America will fall further behind than it already is in the global realm of medicine, technology, and myriad other fields. There is Real Harm.
Similarly, many people Really Believe that vaccines cause harm. This was a myth, started by a shyster doctor, who has since admitted he lied. Yet many people do not vaccinate their kids. As a result, cases of measles, rubella and other previously near-extinct diseases are on the rise. Several have died. THERE is Real Harm.
People believing that crystals under the bed, aligning your chakra, rubbing some bacon on it, using cannabis oil on your skin cancer, and a hundred other BS things cause Real and Actual Harm Every Day. Sadly, it’s usually their kids that suffer and die from these sincerely held beliefs. Every Sunday, in churches all over the country, preachers preach that homosexuals should be stoned. Stoned! Others just think they should be jailed, or killed. Christians from the US have influenced laws in several countries in Africa which have put in place such laws! There is Real Harm.
Belief that who one loves and has sex with offends some mythical magic man, has caused hundreds to be killed, beaten, or just not allowed to live their lives according to their own beliefs, which harm no one.
So, YES! There IS harm in believing wrong things, things which cause one to make bad decisions that hurt others.
The End
