What are beliefs systems and why are they so important?

Belief systems are a conglomeration of concepts that rule different layers of human communication and societies. Social sciences have made the distinction between varied subgroups. On a nuclear level there are the immediate caregivers with their individual communication styles, life experiences and understanding. On the next level, the extended family and significant others, acquaintances, neighbours, community, school and other educational systems. After there is the subsystem of social, cultural, religious doctrines prevalent in your country. The international relationships come after, and then the global atmosphere.

Imagine a person moving to a new country from a complete different culture and social expectations. This person would evidently experience a totally new conceptual and symbolic integration and re-adjustment. This process also happens after you were born and started assimilating beliefs around you. The norms and habits you witness become most of your language and by default thinking.

To me this raises a question of vital importance: what comes first, the pure and clear mind or the accumulation of information? It is the pure and clear mind of a child obviously, like a blank canvas, and then after there is the layers of data that start settling and integrating in the mind.

The dualism of human development is very noticeable. In one hand a human being is still like a tabula rasa because has the potential and ability to slow down and experience states of joy and calmness. On the other hand, depending of the upbringing, the person can also become an over-reactive anxious and rigid entity, responding to the stimuli, occurrences and stress without making space to process own feelings and honest views. The over-reactive thinking and action are what tend to cause thought disorganisation and mental illness.

Belief systems are therefore like a software installed without one’s full consent as we were not aware that we could actually step back and develop an alternative view. Most people tend to exist like sponges, not filters. The expectations of our world are quite aggressive and derogatory, and impair the potential of individuals, and of their creative and even scientific thinking.