Shirlee Geiger, philosophy professor, talks about "belief baskets". Everyone has things they assume, things they take on faith, things that make sense of their world, things with which they interpret all their experiences. Shirlee Geiger thinks it's more important to know what your assumptions and beliefs are than to have correct beliefs. Do I agree with her? Who knows.

These aren't just things I think, or that seem to make sense at the moment. These are the things I think about when I have severe emotional crises. These are the things I twist the evidence to fit and not the other way around.

Eventually and ideally I'd like to have each of these beliefs linked to an explanitory essay. That'll probably happen sooner rather than later if you grab me on IRC and say, "What on earth do you mean, people are good? That's such bullshit! Explain yourself!"

I'd enjoy seeing other people's belief baskets laid out in neat little rows as well.

I believe people are intrinsically good, and intrinsically want to be good to one another.

I believe there is always a choice.

I believe I always know what I should do.

I believe that talking about anger, frustration and sadness helps, and that the most valuable tools for doing so are compassion to yourself, compassion to others, honesty with yourself and honesty with others, in that order.

I believe that pain is a fact and suffering is optional.

I believe happiness is the ideal state of being.

I believe that truth is good.

I believe that the best way to make an idea more truthful is to discuss it in a group where everyone participates in both tearing down and building up.

I believe that interaction between people is superlatively interesting and important.

I believe in, to quote Concious Loving by Gay and Kathlyn Hendricks, "making a silent agreement with the universe that you are willing to learn however you need to, but you prefer gentle lessons."

I believe that points, morals and purposes all exist. I believe that everything fits.

I believe that reality is completely subjective. I believe that the best way to live is by behaving as if reality was completely objective.

I believe in Right and Wrong. (I'm not sure what my standards for each are, though. I'll get back to you.)