What does it mean to "believe in" something? [View All]

[MineralMan]

That phrase has always bothered me...

I've never really understood it, and I'm a fair hand at language. I either believe something or I do not. I'm not sure what it might mean to believe in something. The verb doesn't really fit with a preposition following it.

I believe the fundamental unit of water is composed of two atoms of hydrogen and one of oxygen. I don't believe in water. I believe the evidence indicates that the Earth is between 4.5 and 5 billion years old. I don't believe in the ancient nature of Earth.

I believe the definition of atheist is one who does not believe that deities or other supernatural entities of that sort exist. I don't believe in that definition. That's a meaningless statement.

People are always saying that they "believe in" Jesus, or "believe in" creationism or whatnot. It's a manner of speaking that is pretty much solely connected to Christianity. Used properly, the verb "to believe" is not followed by any preposition. It takes an object of some sort. You believe this or that, not in this or that. Adding "in" to the object is modifying it in a way that leaves the actual meaning of what you're trying to say tentative. It's a qualifier. Instead of saying "I believe Jesus Christ is part of the Trinity and that His death after appearing as a human being redeems me from my sins," people say "I believe in Jesus as my personal savior." It's not a direct statement, but a wishy-washy dependent sort of expression that defies meaning, because that verb doesn't properly take a prepositional phrase as an object. Interesting, neh?

English is an excellent language. It works best, though, when it is used properly.