Someone recently asked me, in the context of religion, the essence and existence of Mankind..."what do you believe?"
Before I tell you what I believe, I will say this: I am not so pretentious as to present my thoughts as original or revolutionary. Or for that matter, as the "Ultimate Truth." It is just what I believe.
There are 2 major tenets to my belief:
1) Whatever it takes for you to treat people with kindness...with utmost respect...to never intentionally do any harm, either physically or mentally, to another person...to place the well-being of others above your own when necessary...that is what you should believe.
What do I mean by that, you ask? (I thought you never would!)
I mean this:
If it takes the threat of Eternal Damnation in all 9 circles of Hell for you to do all the things I enumerated in #1, then that is what you should believe.
If it takes the promise of an Eternal Paradise to do all the things I mentioned in #1, then that is what you should believe.
If it takes the certain knowledge that Karma will have its way with you if you do (or do not) follow the ways outlined in #1, then that is what you should believe.
If you believe that as highly evolved, higher thinking, higher functioning Beings that #1 is the only logical path to follow, then that is what you should believe.
2) In complete harmony with #1, you should never try to impose your beliefs on anyone else.
I am an atheist, yet I fully support every individual their right to believe in their own conviction. Most religions, at their base, teach wonderful values. I find it sad however (& hypocritical) how many people profess to believe in a higher power yet don't live their lives accordingly. I find it ironic that I'm assumed to be a Christian because I'm basically a good person. I find it arrogant that, when informed that I'm not, many people see me different. All of a sudden I'm not quite as good a person as they thought I was, or pitied because I'm going to hell. I am not alone. There are many who believe as I do, & we live our lives with kindness, generosity and appreciation - because we believe in humanity. We aren't looking for rewards in the afterlife. This IS our life.
ReplyDeleteI personally do not think anyone should NEED a belief in anything in order to love and feel compassion for a fellow human being, or to treat them with respect. In fact, with religion, quite the opposite occurs. My own family members have disowned me because I'm atheist. That is disgusting.
ReplyDeleteI'll say one last thing, I have not directly attempted to impose by beliefs, or lack thereof, on anyone that has not done so first, but I do attempt to spread the truth.