Belief: Directive vs. Reflective

Directive Belief
A directive belief is a belief someone holds that describes how they should live their life. Reflective Belief
A reflective belief is a belief someone holds that describes how their life is lived.Example:
I believe in the Christian God.
Directive Belief: I believe in the Christian God, therefore I choose to read the Bible and follow it's instructions.
Reflective Belief: I choose to read the Bible and follow it's instructions, therefore I believe in the Chirstian God.Notice how in the Directive Belief, the Bible is being read in order to follow the rule of believing in God.
In the Reflective Belief, the Bible is being read because the reader wants to read the Bible. It is the result of this basic desire that leads the reader to believe in the Christian God. Most people have many different beliefs, and some will be Directive while others will be Reflective.It is my contention that Reflective beliefs are much more powerful. Your beliefs simply reflect the way you live. You can identify with and conform to your beliefs because that is how you choose to be in the first place. This makes the belief stronger and fuels a desire to continue along with the belief. The belief is more of a goal or aim from within rather than an external rule or command.Directive beliefs are generally unwilling to change. When you are attempting to follow a Directive belief that you do not accept, it can become extremely difficult. You will start doing things in order to gain acceptance for holding the belief instead of doing things because you actually accept the belief. This kind of mask is generally unhealthy and can lead to deep frustrations with the environment around you.I like to think that my beliefs about gods are Reflective, but I'm not always sure.
I do not rely on a god to get me up in the morning. I rely on my alarm clock.
I do not rely on a god to pay my bills. I go to work.
I do not rely on a god to keep me and my family safe. I educate myself and take precautions.
When I make an important decision such as where I should live or if I should keep my job or who I should marry I do not wait for an indication from a god. I devote time into the important task and make the decision after careful consideration.
I attempted to make this list a wide range of things including some trivial and some major aspects of my life.
Therefore, since I do not leave such things "in the hands" of any god... I think I am an atheist.What strikes me as odd is that I think most people do the same thing as I describe above.
I don't know anyone who relys on a god to wake them up in the morning so they don't use an alarm.
I don't know anyone who relys on a god to pay their bills so they don't work.
I don't know anyone who relys on a god to keep themselves or their family safe so they don't educate themselves and take precautions.
I don't know anyone who relys on a god for important decisions in their life so they don't devote any time and careful consideration into those tasks.
And yet... many people seem to say they do believe in a deeply personal and involved god.Is your belief about gods Reflective or Directive?
If you think your belief is Reflective, can you describe the parts of your life that reflect the belief?(Faith & Belief forum please, because that's where the money is!)Edited by Stile, : Corrected some confusing terminology - thanks jar

Of course, it should also be pointed out that for all your whining you couldn't present a 3rd alternative.I don't present two alternatives because I think they are the only ones possible.
I only present them because they are the only two I know of. Feel free to submit another and we can discuss it.

You sure do a lot of judging while declaring that it's none of your business.

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Directive Belief
A directive belief is a belief someone holds that describes how they should live their life.

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Reflective Belief
A reflective belief is a belief someone holds that describes how their life is lived.

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No one else can decide for you if your beliefs are Directive (following the party-line) or Reflective (doing it because you feel it's right).
You are the only one who can decide this, and you can even change your mind at any time.You could even hold beliefs that fall into some third category that has yet to be explained.My only point is that Reflective beliefs are more individually powerful than Directive beliefs.
I'm not really talking about any specific belief.
The belief could be about God, or it could be that aliens stole your pet goldfish.A reflective believe will be more powerful.If you believe in God because that's the way you feel based on your experiences and you then live your life in a God-filled sense because of this conviction... that's more powerful than going to church on Easter weekend because your mom wants you to.I didn't really think the idea was all that controversial. It was only meant to get people thinking about their beliefs and how they lead their lives. Getting those two to line up will make for a better life. In this world and any other possible plane of existence.