My response is similar to that of Chance, though for somewhat different reasons.
What I find paradoxical is the choice of name - Belief Science.
However, the scientific method is principally about acquiring information which does not subsist on belief.
True, that is a goal rather than an accomplishment - in many areas and many things.
But, to me, the scientific method is a means whereby to mitigate the need for belief.
A curious organization.
And a priesthood?
Curiouser and curiouser.
The followers would be a fascinating study, methinks.

Best regards,

Waldemar

Waldemar A Schmidt, PhD, MD
(Perseveret et Percipiunt)
503.631.8044

Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value. (A Einstein)

> On Dec 5, 2018, at 6:30 PM, Chance McDermott <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
> Thank you for sharing, Gregg.  I like what Martin had to say about people needing to "flock" together towards an image, even if that image were to lead to a dead end.  
> 
> I would be curious to know more about the success religions like Belief Science these days, as, right or wrong, I am hit with negative emotional reactions from three directions.  The first is organized religion itself, which I have an aversive reaction towards due to being raised in a conservative Christian environment (this aversive reaction has matured into a healthy defensiveness rather than the hot antagonism I felt as a younger person, but nonetheless the gut response remains).  Secondly, Scientology is the prominent example of how manufactured religions can go awry, and so "Belief Science" triggers that association.  Thirdly, there is the ingrained concern about being drawn into small cults, and Belief Science gives me that feeling as well.  
> 
> Again, these are emotional reactions from my own personal web of experiences and associations.  On a descriptive level, the religion looks reasonable on paper.  The organization seems self aware and transparent that Belief Science is there to meet a basic human need for belonging and community, and that Belief Science has been mindful about constructing itself in such a way that an in-group is achieved without creating a hostile relationship with the resulting out-group, and does so with a meta-awareness that beliefs are culturally contextual.  It reminded me of a more secular Bahai. 
> 
> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__en.wikipedia.org_wiki_Bah-25C3-25A1-2527-25C3-25AD-5FFaith&d=DwIFAg&c=eLbWYnpnzycBCgmb7vCI4uqNEB9RSjOdn_5nBEmmeq0&r=HPo1IXYDhKClogP-UOpybo6Cfxxz-jIYBgjO2gOz4-A&m=w1gqE3QfiWtkxx7MG2H2wXtZ5Ugt4tiHLQxo8e6ZVUs&s=73EjF1ZE50ETN8gd86PKAq4Ze-EfhSynso5pHfSqCj0&e= <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__en.wikipedia.org_wiki_Bah-25C3-25A1-2527-25C3-25AD-5FFaith&d=DwMFaQ&c=eLbWYnpnzycBCgmb7vCI4uqNEB9RSjOdn_5nBEmmeq0&r=HPo1IXYDhKClogP-UOpybo6Cfxxz-jIYBgjO2gOz4-A&m=WHzD-_dBTq077iXFuqtPUd-4ARONlIkWP5zbFKpjfsc&s=p5QOi66CCDWHRRXnrivHeFTbM6biBt0rPbwdtPuzsyU&e=>
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Wed, Dec 5, 2018 at 7:32 AM martin johnson <[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote:
> I would say "it is meaningful to have a  belief in what is 'true'," in he comtext of saying that animals also function by images, imagives appear as imagination, animals traveling as a group to a destination where there is food, water, have an an image of where they are going, and a belief they will get they. It is crucial to survival. Having images and beliefs is crucial to human survival -- even though sometimes a group belief leads to a dead end. It is in nature and an essential to human functioning to have beliefs, and meaningfull. When a new truth arrises and displaces the old truth, that is part of the process of culture. This view depends on the assertion that reality only exists in contexts, that there is no objective truth, object in the sense of existing without context. It is hubris to say one has the TRUTH, which scientist sometimes say (as in physical scientist claiming a corner on how science has to be performed.) Martin Johnson
> 
> On Dec 4, 2018 10:21 AM, "Henriques, Gregg - henriqgx" <[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote:
> >
> > Hi List,
> >
> >   I stumbled across this site, the Church of Belief Science and found it interesting. It adopts a postmodern, social constructivist view of religion and belief in general, meaning that the focus and meaning of truth is found in what people consensually agree to be true. The founder is a psychologist/counselor whom I had heard of, but I was not aware that he started this group.
> >
> >  
> >
> > Best,
> > Gregg  
> >
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