The hottest Beliefs Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Culture Topics

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.

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.
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My Brother, My Niece, and January 20

donaldjeffries • 2279 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Beliefs Family 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.

Belief exhaustion (part one)

Brain Pizza • 728 implied HN points • 05 Mar 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Beliefs Ideologies Psychology Neuroscience Crisis
  1. Belief exhaustion is the emotional and psychological toll on individuals rigidly adhering to extreme beliefs, resulting in mental and emotional fatigue.
  2. Some people experience belief exhaustion and end up giving up their convictions due to the demanding nature of their beliefs.
  3. The collapse of political regimes sometimes shows the phenomenon of belief exhaustion, where individuals abandon their certainties leading to a rapid disintegration of shared reality.

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.

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.

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.

Teach us to Care and not to Care

The Joyous Struggle • 632 implied HN points • 15 Feb 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Religion Spirituality Faith Beliefs Philosophy
  1. On Ash Wednesday, the reminder of mortality through rituals like smudging ash can help us embrace the impermanence of life
  2. It's important to reflect on what truly matters in life, learning to care deeply about important things while also letting go of what is not worth our attention
  3. Exploring different spiritual paths and beliefs can be a lifelong journey of self-discovery and understanding

We Need More Content!

Regress Studies • 825 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Media 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.

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.

The Ancient Occult Roots of the Fabian Society, Cybele and the Mysteries of Eleusis (part 4)

Matt Ehret's Insights • 845 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Occultism Beliefs Rituals
  1. The Fabian Society, outwardly materialistic and socialist, was actually elitist and tied to ancient mystery religions.
  2. The name 'Fabian Society' was based on Roman tactics and indicated a revival of ancient rituals.
  3. The cult of Cybele-Attis introduced to Rome in 205 BC and the Eleusinian Mysteries played significant roles in ancient occult practices.

The Limits of Principles

Holly’s Newsletter • 2201 implied HN points • 22 Oct 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics Morality Beliefs Principles
  1. Questioning and re-evaluating personal principles is important for growth and understanding.
  2. In certain situations, sticking to principles might lead to negative consequences and reevaluation may be needed.
  3. Understanding the redefined concepts like 'intolerance' can lead to shifts in societal norms and values.

Confessions of a former hippy

Everything is Light • 471 implied HN points • 06 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Activism Counterculture Community Beliefs Music
  1. The hippy movement holds beliefs about environmental damage, overpopulation, living without technology, and anti-capitalism.
  2. The author realized that the hippy movement was judgmental and intolerant, despite promoting peace and love.
  3. Leaving the hippy community allowed the author to develop and vocalize their own thoughts outside of the movement's restricted ideologies.

Hatching the Cosmic Egg (Hymn to Dionysus) (BOP #4)

Secretum Secretorum • 681 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Mythology Philosophy Religion Beliefs
  1. In the beginning was the Egg: The Orphic Egg contains the primordial deity Phanes, from whom other gods emerged.
  2. A future with AI: Consider the potential dangers and benefits of creating a superintelligent AI.
  3. Balancing Apollo and Dionysus: Avoid the pitfalls of controlling what cannot be controlled, like a god-inspired AI.

Introducing: Cynthia Chung's 'Carl Jung and the Land of the Dead'

Matt Ehret's Insights • 746 implied HN points • 11 Jan 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Occult Beliefs Religion Psychology
  1. Cynthia Chung and Matthew Ehret have been researching the occult underground, connecting it to topics like geopolitics and psychology.
  2. Cynthia Chung has written essays on Carl Jung, emphasizing his ties to pagan sorcery and counter-culture movements.
  3. Jung's ideas influenced 20th-century counter-culture, the Esalen Institute, MK Ultra, and the development of a new world religion.

A Fairy Tree Encounter: Bridging Worlds in the Island Woods

The Planet • 412 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Folklore Traditions Beliefs Mythology Magic
  1. Discovering a fairy tree can feel like stumbling upon a magical portal connecting our world to that of elves and fairies.
  2. Leaving offerings at fairy trees stems from ancient Celtic traditions, symbolizing respect and a plea for good fortune.
  3. Despite skepticism, tales of mysterious happenings near fairy trees continue to spark wonder and captivate imaginations.

Sympathetic Magic

The Abbey of Misrule • 319 implied HN points • 18 Feb 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Religion Beliefs Traditions Practices Saints
  1. At wells in Ireland, like St Ita's well, a practice of 'sympathetic magic' takes place where objects of the sick are brought for healing, showing a blending of ancient magical traditions with Christianity.
  2. This 'sympathetic magic' practice involves tying items like socks, handkerchiefs, and shirts to crosses or trees near the well in hopes of a saint's healing power.
  3. The story of St Ita and the lessons she imparted - faith, simplicity, and love - are tied to the traditions surrounding the well, emphasizing spiritual values.

Server (pseudoscience)

Skunk Ledger • 122 implied HN points • 16 Mar 24
🔬 Science Pseudoscience Beliefs History Studies
  1. Belief in servers as a virtual realm similar to an operating system is unfounded and considered pseudo-computer science by recognized organizations.
  2. There is a profitable industry selling products claiming to enhance bots' server relationships, with buyers often deceived by scams.
  3. Proponents of server theories face skepticism, especially in scientific studies that show inconsistencies and lack of evidence to support their claims.

Acting ourselves into new ways of thinking

The Joyous Struggle • 474 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Spiritual Practices Transformation Beliefs
  1. It's easier to act your way into a new way of thinking than think your way into a new way of acting.
  2. Neuroplasticity refers to the brain's ability to change, but it requires effort and consistency to make significant changes.
  3. Cultivating spiritual practices can lead to structural changes in the brain and help develop qualities like empathy, compassion, and patience.

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.

Intellectual Seat Belts

Investing 101 • 110 implied HN points • 09 Mar 24
💼 Business Investing Company Building Beliefs Ideas Risk Assessment
  1. People often use in-group thinking as an 'intellectual seat belt' to feel safe and avoid critically evaluating their beliefs.
  2. Being open to being wrong promotes the pursuit of truth, as it challenges existing beliefs and pressures ideas for improvement.
  3. Questioning mainstream beliefs and pursuing wrongness can reveal potential weaknesses, leading to a deeper understanding and pursuit of truth.

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.