To Believe, Or Not to Believe?
October 26th 2006 11:44
We have all at some point in our lives had to make a choice. A decision to accept what we are told or to question things with an open mind. A choice between wearing blinkers to shield us from the truth or the burden of facing inconvenient facts, between the 'blue pill' and the apparent bliss of ignorance and the 'red pill' and the harsh beauty of reality.
This choice, though usually made unconsciously, is one of the most significant you can ever make as it sets the basis for your entire outlook on life. For example, I am quite a spiritual person but have made the decision not to subscribe to any religion, partly due to my refusal to accept anything in blind faith and partly because of my inability to submit to the discipline of religion.
This refusal to accept religion has provided me with the ability to pick and choose between beliefs and theories from a wide variety of systems as I please. For example, with regards to the much debated matter of creation/evolution, I can consider possibilities ranging from the ancient Sumerian tablets to more orthodox Buddhist theories. If I were a devout Christian, however, I would find it unacceptable to contemplate suggestions that we may have been genetically modified by extra-terrestrials or that reality and our world as we know it could be the product of our own consciousness as it is clearly stated otherwise in the Bible and to doubt such an authority is to indulge in heresy.
On the other hand, orthodox religion, however restricting, can provide people with peace of mind, morality, a definite path for spiritual evolution and the comfort of knowing there is an all-knowing and benevolent God watching over us and guiding our destiny. I have no doubt that religion serves many people well in all of these aspects, but it is not a path that I feel is right for me.
This choice though is, fortunately, not a final decision. Once we are consciously aware of these options a religious person can choose to question their beliefs just as I can choose to conform to any doctrine that I feel is appropriate.
While I have the utmost respect for religion, in its true form, I strongly disagree with blind acceptance. It is my personal opinion that we have the power of consciousness so that we can question these things, attempt to form answers and subsequently strive to gain a deeper understanding of the reality we inhabit.
"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense." - Siddartha Gautama/Sakyamuni Buddha
This choice, though usually made unconsciously, is one of the most significant you can ever make as it sets the basis for your entire outlook on life. For example, I am quite a spiritual person but have made the decision not to subscribe to any religion, partly due to my refusal to accept anything in blind faith and partly because of my inability to submit to the discipline of religion.
This refusal to accept religion has provided me with the ability to pick and choose between beliefs and theories from a wide variety of systems as I please. For example, with regards to the much debated matter of creation/evolution, I can consider possibilities ranging from the ancient Sumerian tablets to more orthodox Buddhist theories. If I were a devout Christian, however, I would find it unacceptable to contemplate suggestions that we may have been genetically modified by extra-terrestrials or that reality and our world as we know it could be the product of our own consciousness as it is clearly stated otherwise in the Bible and to doubt such an authority is to indulge in heresy.
On the other hand, orthodox religion, however restricting, can provide people with peace of mind, morality, a definite path for spiritual evolution and the comfort of knowing there is an all-knowing and benevolent God watching over us and guiding our destiny. I have no doubt that religion serves many people well in all of these aspects, but it is not a path that I feel is right for me.
This choice though is, fortunately, not a final decision. Once we are consciously aware of these options a religious person can choose to question their beliefs just as I can choose to conform to any doctrine that I feel is appropriate.
While I have the utmost respect for religion, in its true form, I strongly disagree with blind acceptance. It is my personal opinion that we have the power of consciousness so that we can question these things, attempt to form answers and subsequently strive to gain a deeper understanding of the reality we inhabit.
"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense." - Siddartha Gautama/Sakyamuni Buddha
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Comment by Harmony Rocks
head for threads
Harmony's Forum For You
Harmony's Forum For You
The quote at the end says it all.
Harmony
Comment by Deorre
Stress Alive
Man Lessons
Cool post.
Comment by Adrian
Philosophy Blog
For instance, I think there are hints in your post above that you were influenced to become more skeptical -- that it was already in your personality.
Comment by Gareth
Yes, I think that is the most important quote of all Buddha's teachings.
Hi Deorre
Thats exactly what I try to do. As Bruce Lee said "Take what is relevant to you and discard the rest"
Hi Adrian
I think you are right in a way, I have been influenced to be skeptical but I think its due to the way that religion was pushed on me in my early school years. I am quite rebellious in nature and so it makes sense that I should want to refuse the beliefs that people such as teachers etc assumed I should have. However, the same environment has the opposite effect on many people so I agree that its largely to do with my personality.
Thanks for the comments