Mr Willetts also distanced himself from the traditional Tory belief in academic selection, saying it was "fantasy" to say selection at the age of 11, which takes place in grammar schools, could be fair.

BBC: NEWS | UK | UK Politics | Cameron hits back over grammars

Missionaries, imams and colonial authorities may have forced Africans to abandon the more open practice of their traditional religions, but the belief systems and, in some areas, the practice, remain as strong as ever.

ECONOMIST: The spirits that move Africa

Unfortunately, it would also bankrupt any firms or banks that had borrowed heavily in foreign currency in the belief that the traditional parities were sacrosanct.

ECONOMIST: Has the IMF changed? Or has the world?

This belief is supported by the traditional Southeast Asian mortuary practices used for members of royalty.

BBC: Laos�� strange plain of jars

In China, there is a centuries-old traditional belief that drinking from the intricately carved rhinoceros horn cups brings good health.

WSJ: 3 charged in smuggling horns of endangered rhinos

Contrary to traditional belief, trading commissions are not the biggest source of revenues for brokerage firms.

FORBES: Schwab Needs Account Growth To Push Stock Above $20

The goal (and belief) is that users can break stories faster than traditional outlets and a set of human eyes can differentiate newsworthy stories from the noise.

FORBES: Digg Digs Deep With New Moderated News Portal