What does it mean to "believe"?

The statement “I believe” is widely used in the human vocabulary during everyday conversation. No one ever stops to think about what the statement actually means.   “I believe” is a way to state an opinion minus offensiveness, predicate the outcome of an upcoming event, or state a claim with uncertainty.  In general arguments, people often use the phrase “I believe”. To believe means to have confidence in something without actually having proof of existence. When “I believe” is used it does not necessarily mean the person is secure in what they are trying to proof. It is often used just to state an opinion that lacks complete facts. It is difficult to believe in a person who says “I believe” because you often find yourself questioning whether what this person is telling you is a known fact or fiction. In an argument, people often use the words I believe or I strongly believe to convince the other person that what they are saying is right without having complete facts. A believe in a certain thing in an argument sometimes provides as the platform of the argument. In another sense it may do nothing for that person or argument. If it is just a belief and not a known fact you do not necessarily have anything to stand on because of the simple fact that support is missing. In a general argument, having simple just a belief in something is a negative addition. With this being said, the other party in the argument is less likely to believe you when you say “I Believe” as oppose to you just stating your own opinion. For example, if a professor presents you with “I believe Martin Luther King Jr. was a major leader in the civil rights movement”, you would find yourself questioning this statement. If the professor said “Martin Luther King Jr. was a major leader in the civil rights movement”, you would be prone to believe him and take the statement as fact.

            I have a strong belief in myself and my intellectual capabilities. It is not a belief, but a fact that I will continue with my strong abilities and attend medical school. I feel that if I were to use the word “belief”, I would be down playing my ability level.  As I stated before a belief is something that cannot or has not been proven.  With my diligence and worth ethic it can be proven that I will achieve my goals. When a person uses the word belief it gives others the reason to doubt or to question their goals.