Definition
Blind belief differs from ordinary belief in its intensity and resistance to inquiry. While a belief may simply be unverified, a blind belief is actively defended against verification. The person holding it does not want to examine it, does not want to hear contradictory evidence, and treats the belief as more sacred than truth itself.Ignorance means the blind beliefs in the fantasies, the ideas and concepts that were incorrectly acquired without critical thinking, without checking. These are now occluding the real knowledge.
Sources of blind belief
Antiquity
Some people have the blind belief that if something is very old, if it is written in a very old book, it must be true. Old does not mean truth — old means it is old. It can be true or false. It is information, and must be verified through direct experience.Authority
Some people believe that if it is said by an authority, it must be true. But authorities are also unreliable — occasionally we find corruption, deception, and fake authorities who declare themselves as such. What is spoken by a great person does not automatically become true or false — it must be explored through one's own experience.Tradition and institutions
Some believe that if something comes from a great tradition, an ancient tradition, or a big institution, it will always be right. But institutions have become means of manipulation and exploitation. They feed on the gullibility of ordinary people. A seeker is exactly the opposite — double check and double check again.Democratic knowledge
Some think that if many people say it, it must be true. This tendency evolved as a survival mechanism — if the tribe said a fruit was poisonous, it was safer to believe than to experiment. But cunning people exploit this built-in bias to propagate false information. A lot of people saying something does not make it knowledge or truth.Indoctrination
The most dangerous source. Whatever was told to us as children is mostly blind belief, not knowledge. The child lacked all the qualities of a seeker — no discrimination, no logical ability, no skepticism. The child's mind is like wet clay, shaped by whoever is around. indoctrination is by far the most dangerous kind of ignorance — most widespread and very difficult to get rid of.Why people hold blind beliefs
The root cause is survival and fear. People hold blind beliefs because questioning them feels dangerous. They fear being outcast, punished, or left alone. Well-educated and independent people tend to be freer from blind beliefs. Those who are tormented, enslaved, illiterate, and dependent are most likely to hold all kinds of beliefs and remain ignorant.Such people lose the ability to question. When questioned, they appeal to authority — "such and such great person said it" — or bring up made-up evidences. They are infected with conspiracy theories. The ignorance makes the mind sick.
Blind belief and the seeker
You will find that most of your ignorance is just blind beliefs gathered from here and there. That is all. Knowledge is very simple — the difficult part is getting rid of the blind beliefs.On the path of knowledge, we do not recommend blind belief. Do not believe anything in the program. Do not believe what others say, what your friends say. Do not believe any other guru. Do not believe your own guru. You are searching for truth, not trying to gather blind beliefs.
If your beliefs are based on knowledge and direct experience, they will not be destroyed by inquiry. Only the unfounded will crumble.
See also: belief, belief systems, ignorance, indoctrination, means of ignorance, critical thinking, verification, biases.