When we believe in something, it becomes truth. This is because
our beliefs determine the choices we make in our lives, and our actions
help shape the world we live in. This essay asks why we don't examine
our beliefs critically and adopt ways of thinking that celebrate human
life and dignity.
"Be careful what you believe because it's true."
Here is an amazing fact. Planets that are millions of miles away and
stars that are millions of light-years away can affect human events here
on earth. If you are a rational human being, you may find this
difficult to believe. But it's true. Astrology is real, and it works.
Here's proof: everyday ordinary people read their horoscopes and plan
their lives based on its recommendations. More than one world leader has
formulated battle plans and set national policy based on advice from
astrologers. Those distant celestial bodies affect human history in real
ways simply because some of us believe they do.
Belief is truth. What we believe is true because we act based on our
beliefs, and our actions shape the world. We make our own values. We
construct the framework that our lives are built around.
Belief precedes knowledge. We learn about the world through a filter,
shaping the facts to fit our pre-existing beliefs. For most of us, when
new facts come to light that support our belief system, we assimilate
them. When new facts call our beliefs into question, we ignore them.
Belief is powerful. What people believe is a blueprint for the kind of
society they create. A society that believes humans are violent and
bloodthirsty will suffer from crime and war. A society that believes in
domination and control will be stratified and hierarchical. A society
that believes making money is the key to happiness will be competitive and
materialistic.
Power is belief. At some point in our evolution we gave up social
power-the power of community-and allowed it to be seized by one person or
group. This apparent usurpation is all the more startling when we realize
that power is based on simple belief. By allowing ourselves to be
convinced that someone else is stronger, more knowledgeable, more moral,
closer to God, or just more powerful (whatever that means) than we are, we
have in effect participated in our own enslavement.
Belief is irrational. Few of us examine our beliefs critically. We
accept what we are taught by our parents, our teachers, our priests, our
friends, the media. Since human beings seem to be largely irrational by
nature, it is not surprising that we have irrational beliefs. But
irrational beliefs can be positive and creative, or they can be destructive.
A good example of a destructive irrational belief is the belief in God.
God is a social construct, a model for organizing society. God was
invented by men to control others. Since God is perceived as a supreme
being, that means all others are lesser beings. The God-model is
hierarchical, and it is reflected in the structure of our society. Vertical power
relationships are not the only way societies can be organized. Yet our
hierarchy habit has visited untold misery and destruction on the world.
Belief entails responsibility. Because we choose our beliefs, we must
be accountable for our convictions, rather than blindly accepting ideas
that have been passed down to us. If we have control of our beliefs,
and beliefs can shape the world, why not believe in something positive?
Instead of embracing cults of sacrifice and death, why not acquire
beliefs that are life affirming? Rather than adopting social models that
grind us down and bleed us of dignity and self-esteem, why not choose
beliefs that can bring out the best in our human nature?
Beliefs can change. Not easily, but it can happen. Beliefs change when
significant events in our lives touch our hearts. Intellectual
arguments rarely change beliefs.
Be careful what you believe because it's true.
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