36 Beliefs

A

B People and their beliefs

person definition

related words adherent (of) a person who supports a particular idea or party adherence, to adhere to convert (to) someone who has taken on a new set of beliefs conversion, to convert fanatic (disapproving) someone with a very strong belief that something is great fanaticism, fanatical radical someone who believes there should be extreme change, often political radicalism, to radicalise reactionary (disapproving) someone opposed to change or new ideas reaction, to react

A definition of one belief

PACIFISM Pacifists seek to eradicate1 violence and conflict, and they believe that war can never be justified. A key tenet2 shared by proponents3 of this way of thinking is that life is precious and should never be wasted. Some pacifists’ beliefs derive from4 their religious views, and some pacifists go as far as to oppose violence in all forms, including in self-defence. There have been several very well-known pacifists throughout history, such as Mahatma Gandhi, who campaigned for Indian independence through using non-violent civil disobedience5. His success has inspired others to use peaceful resistance to achieve their goals, including Martin Luther King Jr., a key figure in the Civil Rights Movement in the United States in the 1950s and 60s.

C

1 abolish or get rid of 2 a principle on which a belief is based 3 person who publicly supports an opinion 4 have their origins in 5 when a group of people express disapproval of laws by refusing to obey them

Other words and expressions relating to believing

Emma’s viewpoint / point of view is that we should just wait and see what happens next. [way of

thinking about a situation] The boy produced a barely credible excuse for arriving late. [believable; opp. = incredible] I was incredulous when she told me she was quitting her job to go to New Zealand. [not wanting or

able to believe something] He’s very gullible – he believes anything you tell him. [easily tricked into believing things that may not be true] You should try to be less subjective about the situation. [influenced by beliefs or feelings rather than

facts; opp. = objective] Can’t you find a more plausible excuse than that? [convincing; opp. = implausible] Many scholars attribute this anonymous poem to Dante. [consider something to be caused or created by] I presume that Meena told you what happened. [believe something to be true although you are not totally certain] We should give her the benefit of the doubt. [accept that someone is telling the truth even though it is not certain] You should take what he says with a pinch of salt – he’s inclined to exaggerate. [do not totally believe

what you are told]

36.1

36.2

36.3

36.4

36.5

Complete the word table. Do not fill the shaded boxes.

noun – person noun – abstract verb adjective adherent convert radical

fanatic reactionary

Find words and expressions in the text in B with the following meanings.

1 want to achieve 2 have their roots in 3 completely get rid of 4 supporters 5 organised activities to try to achieve something 6 principle 7 campaign of protest

Choose the correct word in the sentences below.

1 A gullible person believes everything even if it is plausible / implausible. 2 I don’t find his story at all credible / incredulous. 3 When marking exams, try to give candidates the advantage / benefit of the doubt. 4 A fanatic is someone with a very objective / subjective point of view. 5 The law says that you must be derived / presumed innocent until proven otherwise. 6 It is better to take her promises with a pinch of salt / pepper. 7 In the essay you must summarise the economic problems of this area and conclude by giving your own point of view / tenet about what the government should do to solve them. 8 The play has been presumed / attributed to Shakespeare.

Choose words from the box to complete the sentences below.

adherents attribute converts eradicate justified objective pinch resistance subjective

1 The charity aims to

poverty in this region within five years. 2 It has been said that to a religion can often be much more active supporters of the religion than people who were born into it. 3 The group felt their protest against the unfair laws was completely . 4 The criteria for judging the Poem of the Year competition are, inevitably, to some extent . 5 Many of the self-professed of this philosophy have never even read its basic texts. 6 Historians the origins of this philosophy to Ancient Greece. 7 A judge must try to remain and not let personal values influence his or her decisions. 8 The Government troops offered no to the rebel takeover. 9 I take anything said by an election candidate with a of salt.

Over to you

If you have internet access, look up a world view that interests you, e.g. feminism, Marxism, humanism, Buddhism or any -ism that you want to research. Make notes about (a) the origins of the -ism, (b) what its basic beliefs are, and (c) what differences there are between its different branches (if it has them).