Learn English – Difference between “believe in” and “believe”

differenceprepositions

What's the difference between "believe" and "believe in" in the following sentences?

I.
Kate: Hey, John, do you believe in black magic and astrology?
John: No, I don't believe in all those things.

II.
Kate: Hey, John, do you believe in black magic and astrology?
John: No, I don't believe all those things.

Best Answer

We believe a statement, that it is true.

We believe a person (who has spoken), that what they say is true.

We believe in a person (we have faith in them or trust them).

We believe in [the existence of] something, that it is real.

Astrology makes predictions, and thus is in some ways it is like a statement. Both of these would be idiomatic:

I don't believe astrology.

I don't believe in astrology.

But "magic" makes no statements. This would be not be idiomatic:

I don't believe magic. unidiomatic