The Belief Zone

Here is something that should have a name.

We might think that a cult would be trying to attract as many members as possible, and the way that they advertise themselves would make sense. But yet the statements that a typical cult makes, such as about it's leader, may be difficult to believe. The leader of the cult might be reputed to be able to perform miracles or have superhuman insight.

My conclusion is that cults do that on purpose. They do not want to attract as many people as possible. What they don't want is people who are skeptical and questioning. What they do want is people who are willing to just believe. The statements that are difficult to believe are to weed out people who are not willing to just believe.

But sometimes nations have legends or myths that are difficult to take literally. What I have concluded about this is that it is also done purposely but for a different reason. 

When we are presented with a statement, we make a decision whether or not to believe it. The decision may not be able to be made immediately. There is a zone in our minds where statements go that we are able to believe. That is what I refer to as the "Belief Zone". 

What we initially have to go on in determining our Belief Zone is our senses. Religion and science extend that to things that we cannot directly grasp with our senses. The reason for the Belief Zone to begin with is that our senses are limited. If our senses were able to grasp everything that we wanted them to then the Belief Zone would not be an issue.

The reason for myths and legends that are not literally believable is the effect that they have on our Belief Zone. When we encounter a statement we "try" to believe it. Even if we cannot literally believe it, the effort "stretches" our Belief Zone.

That is a primary reason for myths and legends. They "stretch" our Belief Zone and make us more likely to believe statements that we encounter, even though that may not include the myths and legends themselves.