Belief system and opinion

Believing on the basis of one’s experiences or assumptions is a human tendency that eventually creates a set of convictions that we call belief system. And, this is the belief system that empowers person to form personal view about an issue is called opinion. Both belief system and opinion are closely interlinked and interdependent. Let’s understand in detail. 

Meaning of belief system

A set of what you believe or convictions that evolved over a period of time is called belief system. Religious, spiritual, ethical, political beliefs are examples of various belief systems. Sociocultural factors help in constructing beliefs; whereas, education has the ability to change, midify and refine existing one. Similarly, belief system can influences individual’s views, behaviour and even decision making. And most importantly, it acts as basis to interpret and understand the world we experience. 

What does opinion mean

Opinions are personal viewpoints or what you think personally about an issue or thing. It has nothing to do with facts and evidences. It is simply personal judgement about a thing. Its nature is subjective. Because you know that objective judgement and views are based on facts and data. Similar to belief system, opinions are also influenced by number of factors including your beliefs, emotions, education, experiences, family background etc. Compare to belief system, opinion is more changeable with the emerging new experiences. 

Process forming Beliefs and belief system

Let’s assume that the actor we consider can’t be inert or inactive in the web of relations he or she lives right from the beginning. So, naturally, we can take it granted that it is unavoidable to be shaped by the happenings around him. In the process, he values the things he experiences as per the role assigned to by society earlier. This begins the journey of crystallization of roles, likes, dislike and prepares ground to take stand against and in favour he likes and dislike.

Initially, actor doesn’t’ know about the right or wrong he is offered by the inculcating agencies; instead, he just tries to digest whatever is presented for him intentionally or otherwise. If the actor hardly had the ability to judge the things he got feed up with, he would have altered the process by altering his beliefs by the means of reason and logic. This is the reason why we call education plays vital role in shaping one’s belief system. At the beginning of writing, I have mentioned about the factors influencing belief system. 

Personal views or opinions

Opinion is how do you think personally without fact or reason about a thing or situation with the help of your beliefs or prior knowledge. In short, you judge or express thing or person in focus based on what you believe, rather, what is it in reality? Looks more subjective than rational. 

I think bio-fertilizer helps to improve soil capability.

As far as my opinion is concerned, meaningful learning is better than rote.

There may be different view points or opinions on bio-fertilizers and learnings. May be similar or contrasting. 

Generally, we always believe something as true or false. But, opinion doesn’t mean only beliefs. When a person thinks about a thing, he or she evaluate that thing against his or her beliefs or prior experience.

For example, I think bio-fertilizer helps to improve soil capability.

And, second, as far as my opinion is concerned, meaningful learning is better than rote.

In the first example, person believes that bio-fertilizer has certain property to enrich soil. Actually, he or she isn’t claiming so on the basis of research or any evidence but the belief or experience he has.

Next, in the second example, person believes that rote learning isn’t beneficial for students in the learning process. He thinks that meaningful learning can make difference.

Above both examples show what person in question think is his personal view, depending on either his beliefs or experiences.

Relationship between belief system and opinion

Through the course of time, we store certain experiences in our short or long-term memory. And, on the basis of such experiences, we start believing similar results and interpret our experiences. If one expresses his or her view means he is just evaluating things he faced against his own believing.

For the critical thinking skills perspective, opinion can’t qualify as claim to either support or reject but mere personal views about world around you. Beliefs you possess not only determine what you think but it also shapes your like and dislike regarding a particular thing or person. In other words, beliefs act as determining factor for the emergence of attitude you carry.

In conclusion, a belief system can be defined as a set of convictions that guide an individual’s understanding of reality, serving as a framework for interpreting experiences and interactions. On the other hand, opinions often arise from these belief systems, reflecting a person’s stance on specific issues or topics based on their deeply held convictions. This relationship can create a cyclical effect, where beliefs influence opinions, and conversely, opinions challenge and sometimes alter foundational beliefs.

Final thought on belief system and opinion, 

So far, we have learnt about how belief system, opinion, and relationship between them. Both are interlinked and interdependent. By learning this, it will help understanding how they shape the behaviour and attitude of social animal in social setting. Truly, “beliefs system” acts as a launching pad upon which opinion and judgement take-off.

Q.1.What is belief system and how does it form?

Ans: Generally, through the course of time, we store certain experiences in our short or long-term memory. And, on the basis of such experiences, we start believing similar results. And, If one expresses his or her view means he is just evaluating things he faced against his own believing. As time passes, such experiences structure as belief system.

Logics and Reasoning

Presenting an argument

Basic thinking process 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belief#:~:text=A%20belief%20is%20a%20subjective,be%20either%20true%20or%20false.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/readersblog/drpande/opinions-vs-beliefs-35868