>and because it has been verified. //
That may be true for you but is essentially an appeal to authority. Most scientists claim to be falsificationists and the current agreed Scientific Method is one of Popperian falsification.
Your comment on cliffs belies an ignorance of epistemology - people didn't used to have a gravitational theory, as far as we know no animals have one, that doesn't mean you then jump off cliffs. One's beliefs about reality don't fundamentally change reality.
GP said:
>> People can hold beliefs because they have certain consequences.
> Nearly all beliefs are of this type. I believe the Earth orbits the Sun because it's helps me predict the seasons.
I think there are a lot of beliefs that are held not because they have beneficial consequences, but for other reasons.
Religion as a belief is held by most people because they have been brought up with it. (converts nonwithstanding)
Scientific theories are believed (i.e. held true, used for explanations of reality) because they predict stuff that actually happens and can not be falsified.
Both of these are not believed primarily because their belief has actual consequences IMHO.