Belief is when a claim comes from a source I trust. In some cases, it’s a source I’m choosing to trust.

Like, my nephew is staying with me. He’s had meth issues in the past. His alternative is a shelter. He claims that he has a seizure disorder, and that puts me in a difficult spot because he says it gets worse on the street and also in shelters.

That’s pretty believable, but there’s a part of me that’s aware it could be a manipulation, this whole claim. I haven’t asked for evidence, despite the feeling of doubt.

This is a belief of mine. I am choosing to believe his claim.

If he were to show me authenticatable hospital paperwork documenting the seizure disorder, then it would be knowledge. Then I would know.

This is an example of the difference between the two in my own life right now. It’s a belief because to a certain degree I’m taking his word for it.

Incidentally this is the same way I think the word works in religion. People believe in God because they choose to. I feel like I know God exists, because I’ve encountered it during mushroom trips. But others, who haven’t had those direct contact experiences, believe.