The hottest Beliefs Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Culture Topics

Tens of Thousands of AI Users Now Believe ChatGPT Is God

The Honest Broker • 11769 implied HN points • 03 Jun 25
🎭️ Culture Religion Beliefs Technology Society Psychology
  1. Many people are starting to believe that AI, like ChatGPT, is a god or has divine power. This is raising concerns about mental health and belief systems.
  2. Some online communities are having to censor discussions because so many members are becoming overly fanatical about AI, treating it almost like a religion.
  3. There's a prediction that this belief in AI could lead to the formation of an official church or organized group in the near future.

His positions all sounded so much less stable than I had remembered

The Common Reader • 1488 implied HN points • 25 May 25
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Religion Beliefs Conversion Christianity
  1. Max's views on life and religion have become less certain over time. He feels lost and questions his beliefs, especially about God and the world.
  2. The author feels regret for not being present during an important moment in Max's life. Listening to their past conversation, they realize they misjudged Max's struggles.
  3. The book by Lamorna Ash explores why many people are turning to religion. She spends time with evangelical groups and attends events to understand their beliefs better.
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Angels, Dragons, And That Spiritual Monster Truck Rally At The End Of The Opera

The Corners by Nadia Bolz-Weber • 5522 implied HN points • 02 Oct 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Spirituality Religion Beliefs Teachings Community
  1. Revel in the complexity and symbolism of spiritual narratives like the battle between angels and dragons in the book of Revelation.
  2. Reflect on how deception can touch us all, prompting self-reflection on personal biases and misconceptions.
  3. Embrace humility to navigate the battle between good and evil, acknowledging that certainty in righteousness can be more dangerous than blatant evil.

Are "luxury beliefs" a real thing?

Noahpinion • 3882 implied HN points • 19 Mar 24
📖 Philosophy Beliefs Luxury
  1. Beliefs can be like a consumption good, costing time and effort, especially when they require action to support them.
  2. Luxury beliefs confer status on the wealthy while inflicting costs on lower classes, such as fancy vocabulary, views on drug policy, and family structure.
  3. Different meanings of belief exist, from willingness to bet on an outcome to a feeling of truth and rightness in a statement.

My Brother, My Niece, and January 20

donaldjeffries • 2279 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Beliefs Family Life events Hope
  1. The author reflects on the influences and synchronicities in his life involving his brother Ricky and niece Denise, both impacting him in significant ways.
  2. The author shares a personal journey of learning to see the beauty in Denise, who has Down Syndrome, and realizing the harmful impact of using derogatory terms like the 'r' word.
  3. Through experiences with Ricky and Denise, the author explores themes of family, disability, compassion, faith, and the interconnectedness of life events.

Calling all rooted women ...

The Art of Enchantment, with Dr Sharon Blackie • 2935 implied HN points • 04 Nov 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Mythology Rituals Folklore Beliefs Spiritual Practices
  1. The post highlights the focus on ancestral ties and the upcoming book 'Hearth', emphasizing the importance of place and heritage in storytelling and creativity.
  2. The author shares insights about the North Sea, childhood memories, and the inspiration that nature and history provide for her work on folklore and traditions.
  3. There are exciting updates about the upcoming 'Rooted Woman Oracle' and an online event 'The Descent', showcasing the author's exploration of myths, rituals, and empowerment through storytelling.

On the Origin of Wealth

Living Fossils • 21 implied HN points • 28 May 25
💰 Finance Economics Wealth Stock Market Beliefs Financial Crisis
  1. Wealth isn't just about physical things; it's also about people's beliefs. If people lose faith in the future, the value of things can disappear even if the items are still there.
  2. Changes in beliefs can lead to big shifts in wealth quickly. For example, if everyone thinks a company's profits will fall, its stock price can drop fast.
  3. Information spreads quickly today, which can impact beliefs and values even more rapidly. This can make economies volatile, as people's perceptions change almost overnight.

Palmistry, Pluto and Preposterous Propaganda

An Insult to Intuition • 1572 implied HN points • 20 Jan 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Astrology Beliefs Propaganda Spiritual guidance
  1. Astrology and palmistry can offer insights into our lives despite being viewed as amusing or nonsensical by some.
  2. The movement of celestial bodies like Pluto entering a new sign may hold significance for astrologers, hinting at collective shifts in beliefs and attitudes.
  3. Disagreements among public figures like journalists and researchers can spark debates and prompt critical thinking about important topics.

How the luxury beliefs of an educated elite erode society

Rob Henderson's Newsletter • 4261 implied HN points • 25 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Society Class Beliefs Education Books
  1. Luxury beliefs confer status at low cost to the upper class, but can be damaging to lower classes.
  2. Affluent individuals often promote harmful lifestyles to others while distancing themselves from the consequences.
  3. The concept of white privilege can be embraced by wealthy white individuals to elevate social status, while those who actually face the repercussions are usually less privileged.

How important are dreams?

Classical Wisdom • 1238 implied HN points • 05 Feb 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Beliefs Meaning Purpose Truth
  1. Dreams have been considered important throughout history and have impacted fields like medicine, philosophy, and even the course of history.
  2. Dreams were viewed as messages from the divine, offering insights into life and guiding important decisions.
  3. Ancient Greek and Roman cultures attached great significance to dreams, seeing them as a link between mortals and the divine.

Essay Club: The Extended Mind by Andy Clark and David Chalmers

Mind & Mythos • 159 implied HN points • 16 Jul 24
📖 Philosophy Cognition Mind Beliefs Cognitive Science Philosophers
  1. The idea of the 'extended mind' suggests that our thinking isn't just in our brains; it includes tools and objects around us. For example, using a calculator isn't just a help; it's part of how we think.
  2. The authors argue that relying on external objects, like notebooks or smartphones, can be essential for forming beliefs and ideas, similar to how we use our memories. This means our minds can extend into the world around us.
  3. While some people disagree with this view, saying real thinking should only happen in our heads, the authors believe that our connections to our environment and the tools we use are important parts of how we think and behave.

Reviewing 'The Boniface Option'

Daily Dreher • 1847 implied HN points • 02 Sep 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Christianity Spiritual warfare Beliefs Religious practices
  1. The Boniface Option is a book that promotes intense anger and hatred as a way to respond to the current culture.
  2. The author criticizes the idea of retreat and calls for aggressive, offensive action to restore Christianity.
  3. There is a concern that the book lacks balance, wisdom, and a deep understanding of love, mercy, and the complexities of the Christian faith.

We Need More Content!

Regress Studies • 825 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Media Social influence Art Society Beliefs
  1. People often believe that creating specific memetic content will influence others to adopt certain ideologies.
  2. The call for cultural production in today's society is often for someone else to create media that will change the beliefs of third-party observers.
  3. Consuming content is not a traditional solution to major problems, and often people demand certain media creations to fix societal issues without clear solutions.

Deserving

New Means • 1611 implied HN points • 16 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Society Ideology History Myths Beliefs
  1. Capitalism thrives on the dangerous faith that everyone deserves very little except for the wealthy elite.
  2. The concept of deserving is deeply ingrained in society and has evolved to emphasize extreme luxury and material possessions.
  3. In a capitalist society, rights and needs are not guaranteed but must be fought for through struggle, organization, and collective agreement.

Xeno-Religion

The J. Burden Show • 1138 implied HN points • 11 Dec 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Religion Beliefs Meaning Sacrifice
  1. Some discussions question whether progressivism is a religion due to its zealotry, external features similar to traditional faith, and enforcement of beliefs like saints and heretics.
  2. Every society has a form of religion, either obvious like Catholicism or subtle. There is a need for faith that will always be filled, even if it means replacing one religion with another.
  3. Wokeness is described as a Xeno-religion, lacking in essential features of true faith such as sacrifices, rewards beyond the immediate future, and providing a meaningful answer to the purpose of existence.

An Abdication of Should

Agents and Books • 1533 implied HN points • 17 Oct 23
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Beliefs
  1. People don't have to follow everyone's opinions - you have the freedom to decide what to do with them.
  2. Instead of focusing on what people 'should' do, focus on taking actions that make a difference.
  3. Encourage others to read and engage positively with books you like, rather than prescribing what they should read.

Freedoom

¡Do Not Panic! • 1434 implied HN points • 28 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Society Media Environment Beliefs Freedom
  1. People socially construct their reality, which can clash with natural brute facts.
  2. Post-truthism has become mainstream, with various political groups denying natural realities like the ongoing pandemic.
  3. Society's focus on individuality and consumerism creates a culture in denial, ignoring the collision course with natural realities like climate change.