Beliefs: None
What little I know, I know. Everything else, all I can honestly say is: "I don't know." There is no belief. I do not subscribe or belong to any religion, dogma, or any belief system (BS).
There is a difference between acquired knowledge and a "knowing" which comes from within. We tend to believe things which we don't know but wish to be true.
Believers and Seekers
In the West, people are told what to believe. Some people believe there is a god, others believe there is no god. Both are believers who try to fathom the unknowable. Much of what they believe is something which cannot be known. Therefore, most of it is imaginary.
To say it grammatically, most scriptures are written in the "declarative" form, telling you the way the author believes that truth is. Some texts are "imperative", like "You shall do..." or such, giving you commandments. If you do not obey, damnation and hellfire will be your punishment. Some religions even tell you, that you are born in sin, and need to be saved.
"Examine and experience yourself !"
~ Buddha Siddhartha Gautama
Ancient texts and scriptures are "interrogative", they ask questions and invite exploration. Thus there is no need to fight fellow seekers, but walk together in the search of truth.
Conflicts
The downside is that beliefs often lead to conflicts among people. Some believe in a faith and "know" that it is the ultimate and only truth, while others have a different faith that they hold equally to be true. When their beliefs clash and only one can be true, conflicts and wars arise. Politicians and religious leaders use this to further their own objectives. That's one reason why I don't subscribe to any faith or religion.
Profit in the Prophets
Religions have long cashed in on the beliefs of their flock.
By creating fear of hellfire and damnation
for which they then offer the only salvation,
they create loyal compliance and thus a consistant income stream.