There is much to learn from the past, yet I don't personally believe it is to simply believe the same things they did. I see it more as learning new things to consider as we seek answers.

Absolutely! Learn from the past, don't emulate it. It is from our current actions that our future may be more clear.

So if there is a force that responds to concentrated belief that is focused how does magic work (for those that believe it does)?

Magick is the science of controlled coincidence. ;)

Yet if it exists then I'd view it more like a tool and not good, evil, dark, or light. It is a tool and like any tool it can be used for benevolent, or malevolent purposes.

Like all things of nature, they are all neutral - good and evil are merely conceptions of the human polarity experience. Good and bad are both subjective ideas that are an intrinsic part of the same idea, as hot and cold are polarities of temperature.

Belief is one of the, if not the, strongest tools a mage has to work with. If the mage does not believe, the mage will more than likely fail - unless external forces wish to see otherwise, but then in reality would it be the mage succeeding?

Great post, as always I really enjoyed your writing style! Thank you for the shout out. :D