Understanding Belief This blog is a glimpse into a book I’ve been “working on” for years. It started with a disturbing puzzlement about some friends I cared deeply for who held beliefs I considered wrong, sometimes even destructive. As I began to ponder, questions arose. How do we form our beliefs? How can we discover the truth? Can we change the closely held beliefs of others? What about identity (beliefs about who we are)? What about values (beliefs about right and wrong)? What about society and when things go awry? And so on. Consequently, I started a research project - reading everything I could find at the library and online…and I pondered. Of course, one subject led to another, and the years rolled by. Since we don’t live forever, and our acuity doesn’t necessarily improve with age, perseverance is required. With enough post-retirement free time to spend (after family, travel, and golf commitments are accommodated), I am determined to finish this beast. A couple warni...