The Way of the Partial Believer

Ambiguity
Belief can have a range of meanings. It can be the belief that some factual statement is true. It can be trust or acquiescence in the face of uncertainty. It can simply be a belief in something in a general sense as being worthwhile, without any judgment about it's factual or literal content. The partial believer moves within these ambiguities.

Motivation
A partial believer may want to be a part of a belief community for different reasons. They may have been raised in it and it is an important part of their ethnic or cultural identity. It may be an important aspect of their family life. They may be attracted to some aspects and not to others, and they don't want to lose the parts that they value. For example, the partial believer may value many of the social and ethical teachings and be open to the mystical, while suspending judgment on metaphysical teachings or predictions about the future.

Mappings
Some aspects of a belief system may be difficult for the partial believer to accept. This can be handled using internal mappings, like mapping prophets to strong poets, scriptures to poetry, and infallibility to social authority to define the practices of a belief community. The partial believer can then participate in the language games of the community without the need to change the language or practices themselves.

Partitioning
Some things may not map, for example, explicit teachings on gender identity or exclusivity. These can be partitioned into compartments such as left overs from premodern cultures, and treated as non-essential or otherwise ignored.

Tact
The mapping and partitioning done by the partial believer may not be accepted or even seen by those who take a more literal or strict approach. To avoid unnecessary conflict, the partial believer will likely want to use tact in not putting too fine a point on the distinctions and instead seek common ground and keep silent on the rest, unless there is actual harm to others.

Evasion
The partial believer may not find it beneficial or necessary to fully practice some aspects of a belief system. It may sometimes be best to keep such deviations to themselves or use a don't ask, don't tell policy. Just because the partial believer doesn't choose to practice something does not mean they have to make a show of it, or disturb others, although those close to them will likely be aware of it. Some with an all or nothing attitude or people looking on from the outside may see this evasiveness as hypocrisy, but it need not be depending on the attitude and intention of the partial believer.

Marginality
Belief communities often have marginal or inactive members. Usually they will tolerate a degree of marginality in hopes of keeping whatever level of participation they are getting. If they are too strict their numbers will likely decrease to only a hardcore remnant with more and more people pushed out. If too much pressure for total conformity is applied, the partial believer may need to depart to remain true to themselves.