TDS 13 | Belief: Compass vs. Map

This is our first weekend-edition conversation! :)

We'll meet at the community room of a Denver library branch. You are welcome to go earlier or stay after to explore the books. You may bring your covered beverage or small snacks, but nothing to purchase there. Please make sure you read the library use policy before attending:

https://www.denverlibrary.org/content/library-use-policy

What are we going to talk about?
I find myself, more often recently, starting a sentence with “I believe…” and then Immediately minding “well, do I really ‘believe’? why not just ‘I think’? do I mean I’m very sure about what I’m saying? what am I trying to convey…?” I wonder why we feel the need to believe in things and why believing carries such a different weight in our minds. I like to view beliefs (or belief systems) as tools that help us navigate the human experience. But do they offer direction like a compass, or are they more like a map, providing a blueprint? Do we develop beliefs as we move through life, or are they predetermined paths for us to follow? Are they the means by which we interact with our life priorities, or are they, in fact, those priorities? Is belief the foundation or the scaffolding? Is it the pavement or the guardrail? Is it limiting or directing? We aim to understand how these metaphors shape our perception of faith, certainty, personal truth, and decision-making. We'll explore how we function with beliefs and dig deeper into how our belief systems might either constrain or liberate us in our quest for meaning.

Conversation format is free flow, with an emphasis on digging ever deeper and finding more questions (than answers).

Things to think about before the conversation
1. How does your personal belief system act as a compass, if at all, when you face uncertainty or change in life?

2. For you, what are differences between belief, philosophy, thought, and truth?

3. Can a belief change its form from a compass to a map over time (or vice versa), and how might this shift affect your life decisions?

Please...
1. Be enthusiastic about deep conversations with others,
2. Be respectful to others and their opinion,
3. Update your RSVP if you can't make it.

Thank you and looking forward to it.

(Image credit: unstack.com)