We describe the formation of beliefs with numerous references to possession, as when we say that “I adopted the belief,” “he inherited the view,” “she acquired her conviction,” or, if a potential belief is rejected, “I don’t buy that.” When someone believes in something, we refer to fact that “she holds a belief,” or “he clings to his belief.” When a belief is “given up,” we state that “he lost his belief,” “she abandoned her convictions,” or “I disown my earlier stand.”
