“By knowing, one reaches belief. By doing, one gains conviction. When you know, dare.” Ancient African Proverb

To discover the truth about your conscious existence, you must first examine your beliefs. Society often encourages us to adopt these beliefs before seeking knowledge. However, beliefs lacking a factual foundation are unproven concepts that can obstruct our search for truth. So, are you a believer, or do you know? Beliefs can operate at both a conscious level, where we are aware of our convictions, and a subconscious level, where they influence our thoughts and actions without us even realizing it. Knowledge should always precede belief; after all, how can you have faith in something without proof or understanding of its existence?

Faith often requires accepting something as true, even in the absence of concrete evidence. It relies more on trust and conviction than on undeniable proof. In a religious context, belief typically involves a leap of faith, trusting in concepts that cannot be fully supported by empirical or scientific evidence.

In science, empirical evidence refers to data and information that are gathered through direct observation, measurement, or experimentation. It serves as the foundation for scientific inquiry, allowing researchers to test theories and validate their findings. This type of evidence relies on verifiable and observable phenomena rather than speculation or theoretical reasoning.

A belief, on the other hand, is an acceptance or agreement with a premise, often made without a complete understanding of its truth. Beliefs can range from fleeting suspicions and casual opinions to deeply held convictions. The transition from belief to knowledge occurs when the truth of a matter becomes unmistakably clear to the believer.

“Knowledge is consciousness of reality. Reality is the sum of the laws that govern nature and of the causes from which they flow.” Ancient African Proverb

“Knowledge must always precede beliefs.” Genuine understanding and factual knowledge should serve as the foundation for any beliefs we hold, rather than the other way around. Unfortunately, our society often encourages us to believe before we know, which perpetuates ignorance of the facts, similar to how certain religions operate. Within the political sphere, there are individuals who benefit from keeping you unaware of the truth. This is why knowledge should be the basis for our beliefs; they ought to be grounded in solid evidence, facts, and verifiable truths rather than being formed arbitrarily or based on assumptions and falsehoods.

“We mustn’t confuse mastery with mimicry, knowledge with superstitious ignorance.” African African Proverb