Attempts to twist words aside, "belief" in the sense you mean, is simply "satisfaction that the evidence presented supports the explanation better than any alternative." Obviously contrary evidence, should it be found, will reduce that satisfaction. People who are afraid of having their mental...
If "no evidence to the contrary" is valid, then Martians, trolls, fairies, Atlantis, several thousand gods, and politicians' integrity exist.
"Fairies make the flowers grow. Prove me wrong" is the height of idiocy. And illogic.
I concur. In order, I think "happiness" is an emotional response to the satisfaction of the other needs you mention.
The need to be a part of something larger could be just a sophisticated response to the fact that we are pack-hunting, predatory omnivores. Our awareness of "packs" that are...
What meaning would you assign that phrase? As a species, we have a notable propensity to make up stuff to explain what we can't understand. And a notable refusal to accept the idea that you live, and then you're gone.
Animals have minds, varying levels of intelligence, and some form of...
Again, it's apparently the perception of the morons that gayness is so attractive and powerful that a single mention of it will undo all their years of hard work to make their kids straight.