The more I write the more ideas I have for other blogs. This has been very therapeutic for me and I think I’m officially addicted. One idea leads to another and I try to keep these things short and sweet so as not to deter or bore anyone. To be perfectly honest, I was hoping for a lot more interaction/comments. But I guess that will happen when people actually start reading what I’m writing. BTW, I realize that my last few posts have been me stating my beliefs more so than me inviting conversation, which is what I originally wanted it to be. SO…
Maybe I will start by asking the question that’s on my mind and work backwards from there. Why do you believe what you believe?
In my last blog I mentioned “blind eyes”. That phrase was purposeful. I labeled a group of believers that I believe are responsible for propitiating a movement, whether it’s intentional or not. Allow me to define my biased label. I consider this group to have “Blind Faith”. That means I believe that they don’t know why they believe what they believe. And that most of them only believe what they’ve been taught and never question it because it came out the mouth of a Preacher, Parent or Mentor.
Their beliefs form an attitude. This attitude brings forth undesirable actions in my opinion. Here’s where I insert my example. Ever seen a guy with HUGE muscles? What’s your first thought? If you’re anything like me, you ASSume it’s because he’s trying to compensate for something. Right? Or maybe I could put it a little nicer, if someone is insecure in their beliefs or status. They tend to be on the offensive. Instead of waiting to hear what you think about an issue, they will “bullhorn” the issue. Plowing you over with so much of what they say is “right” or “true” that you know there is no use in entering a conversation. WAIT!…I’m pretty sure I just defined myself (so shut up and keep reading). *Please note the sarcasm in that last statement*
OK, now that you get my point, back to my original question: Why do YOU believe what you believe? Or, do you know why you believe what you believe?
The reason I ask is not to point out the lack of knowledge by the parties in question, but to get them to ask themselves, WHY. (It’s more of a mercy killing than anything). If you can’t answer this question for yourself, then you’ve put yourself in a bad spot for when the earthquake/tsunami hits your life.
Plus, I’m actually interested to hear “why”. There have been some super cool miracles/testimonies that have lead to belief. There is a comment box below that is screaming for your story.
Chris, hang in there and you will begin to get comments once more people find you. It took me a full 3-4 months to begin to get regular comments, but eventually I got up to about 800 followers, and then they became more regular.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, my answer to your question is fairly brief: I believe what I believe because of a combination of education, church, and life experiences, which means that some of my beliefs have changed over my 51 years. My religious beliefs have guided my life, my education has taught me to question things and make up my own mind, and my life has validated or changed my beliefs. It's a never-ending, fascinating and exciting process!
EXPERIENCE proves what I know of Jesus to be true. Anyone could argue with me over the authenticity of the Bible, but no one can argue what I have experienced.
ReplyDeleteSome beliefs are easier than others. I believe the sky is blue because I can look out the window and see it for myself (although sometimes it is gray, pink, orange and (especially at night) black. And grass is green (but sometimes brown, bluish, tan, etc, etc).
ReplyDeleteIn any case, my belief regarding color of the sky or the grass is formed out of simple observation. But ask my why the grass is green or why the sky is blue and you will get a blank stare. I could blurt out some scientific answers but, at that point, my belief goes from observation to theory. And the more you ask "why" the more theorizing you will have to do.
Such is the case with God; not easily 'observed' with the naked eye, enormously open to observational interpretation and yet, very real and tangible.
I often entrench myself in theories and questions in order to find a deeper understanding of why I believe what I believe. There is value in that - it's good and necessary.
But nothing is quite as satisfying as giving all the theories a rest and instead, taking some time to just observe the world around me with child like eyes and no suppositions, tuning my ear to intently listen for the whispers (and sometimes-no-so-whispers) of God.
All people believe what they believe because of their heart. Their heart is the byproduct of years of your nuture affecting your nature.
ReplyDeleteNuture can be life experiences or just the unchallenged words from a parent that shaped your heart. But your heart as it is today is the lens we use to observe the world. The mind will by default validate the condition of the heart.
This is why different denominations or political parties look at the exact same data and draw opposite conclusions. Their lens/heart ultimately interprets their world not the mind.
Even the decision to rely more on the mind is a heart decision.
@The Koo - that's a good word right there.
ReplyDeleteI don't know, man. I think our finite minds look for patterns to understand things, and I also think many of us want to fit in. So we find a doctrine that makes it sort of make sense, and a group of like-minded people, and we're done. Challenge any of that, and I get insecure/angry because it's another area I can't control. I don't want to discount really smart, reverent people, though, who have had 2000+ years to consider truth and interact with the Holy Spirit. I would hate to think it's only my experience that validates Truth, but it is also true that my experience is essential for my faith. Strange that it's in me, but it's not about me.
ReplyDelete"So we find a doctrine that makes it sort of make sense, and a group of like-minded people, and we're done." Ray! Great observation.
ReplyDeleteI think I just got busted :)
I Love, Love, Love all of these comments. I grow and learn so much by hearing others thoughts and reasoning's. I am definitely gonna me meditating on these.
ReplyDelete@Cindy-That's kinda where I find myself. I seem to be in a morphing stage and I'm using all of those things to help me get there.
@Lindsay-You hit the nail on the head for me.
@Jonathan-The Grass is Green and the sky is blue. Some brushes paint with broader strokes than others :) I totally get what you're sayin.
@The Koo-I wish I could express myself as well as you do. Powerful illustration and dead on. We will always follow our hearts.
@Ray-I am a "pattern" guy. Maybe it's the OCD in me but I get what you're sayin too. I personally feel like a round peg in a square hole.
All of this has really helped me. I love looking at things from every angle possible. Although I don't think I've seen all sides yet :)
chris,
ReplyDeleteI believe what i believe because as you seem to be doing, i took the time to search inside/outside and think for myself. I read, study, listen to, and engage in conversation on a regular basis with both close minded and open minded individuals about their belief. I open my eyes, ears, heart and my mind without fear to the world around me and accept the beauty that exists in all environments no matter how bleak it may seem at first sight. I have learned to accept both the negative and positive as the whole of what Is, though it may be more difficult to do so. I believe what I believe because it is right for ME, regardless of the judgement of others. If i am wrong then I will accept my mistakes whole heartedly when the time comes. Not to seek forgiveness and a easy pass, but because I believe it to be the just, right, and honorable thing to do. I believe in what I believe as it is the personal relationship that matters, at least to me.
I believe what I believe based on evidence and repeatability through the scientific method as applied to all observable phenomena.
ReplyDeleteBlah! Sounds pretty cold, huh? I don't feel that I have a choice in the matter, though, as I am an imperfect being. Let me ask you something...suppose - in your experience - that you have felt, or "known", or in some regard experienced what you believe is the hand or presence of God. From the looks of it most of you have. I have had experiences that I cannot explain myself, and I'm the first to admit it! The problem that I see immediately, is that I AM FALLIBLE. I do not trust my experience to the exclusion of impartial evidence. I make mistakes, I repeat mistakes, I forget, I lose track of my keys. I can't remember what I had for breakfast last Monday! You can all share in my frustration with the limits of our bodies and minds, I'm sure. If I throw a ball with my right hand it goes right where I'm aiming it, (mostly...) Throw the same ball with my left hand and, shit, it might end up behind me! I got organs that I don't need, no spare organs of the ones I DO need, and no instruction manual or warranty. If I'd bought myself at Sears I might take myself back...
DNA evidence shows that we are 97% chimpanzee: We are walking, talking monkeys with only slightly larger brains than those primates. You can tell this yourself by turning on the TV at any time of the day or night and flipping around a minute or two.
Don't misunderstand me and assume that I think we're worthless or dumb animals, far from it! We are beautiful, loving, principled and - if there is such a thing - divine. I just do not trust my own limited faculties in regards to unraveling the fabric of the universe unassisted, vis a vis, without the input of repeatable, independently verifiable observations. If my tiny monkey brain can't look at you and tell you what's in your pocket - sight unseen - or tell you what you're thinking, or tell you the mass of some far off, unobserved star, why should I expect it to illuminate me to the mind of an all-powerful being?
You are all loving, caring people as far as I can tell, and I know most of you personally. But Chris' question goes to the heart of the matter: Why do you believe what you believe? I believe what I believe not because I feel it, or hope its true, or fear the consequences of not believing. I believe what I believe because I must. If it cannot be proved, I do not believe it. Not to say I don't trust people, how could you exist without some measure of trust? I do not lose hope, what is life without the prospect of improvement? I do not, however, have faith in *anything*. To me faith means a belief without proof, and I've no use for it as I cannot see what it brings me that I cannot get in some other way. I believe it can be dangerous besides, as there is no guarantee that the belief one espouses on account of faith will be true, or even close to it. What is the use of that?
I don't want to offend anyone, and I certainly don't begrudge anyone their faith, nor reject it as fundamentally wrong or immoral. But, put simply, faith brings confidence more often than knowledge.
BTW, my account is all screwy, this is Boston Shilling. Sorry it took so long to get back to you, Chris, and thanks for turning me on to this!
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