Believing

We all have beliefs about something.  We all have opinions about one thing or another.  It is interesting to observe people and their behaviour towards new ideas and the things they believe in.  This is a topic that goes further than religious beliefs and extends to political and ethical views.

Often people believe what they want to believe.  Even if they confront other views they often shut the idea down in their thinking.  This is done because few of us want to go through the stress of changing our mind. I have even had people tell me that they would rather believe a lie than confront the reality that stands in front of them.  Believing is said to give hope for something better.  I do agree that there are times in our lives when it is better to believe this way.  However, in most matters, this ignorant form of belief sets us up for failure and disappointment.

For the religious, it is doubly difficult to change.  This often means admitting that you were wrong and the implications for that are quite profound.  For a Christian who believes that Jesus is the only way to God it is very hard for them when they begin to see some of the problems with the way those alleged events were reported.  If you examine another religions you will often find that their credentials are equally valid if not better.  However, even though some of those beliefs are said to be rock solid, the reality is that they are often flimsy and weak.

Many of the various forms of Christianity have changed their minds radically over time.  As a Christian I used to make a spectacle of the radical changes made by the Mormons and the Jehovah's Witnesses without recognising the changes that have been made in the Christian denominations.  Outlandish claims about the end of the world, changes in rules and ordinances in the church as well as the role and place of women in the home and church have all changed radically.  These changes show the unreliable nature of belief.

People will tell you that it is easier for them to believe in something rather than nothing.  This is demonstrated even in childhood.  Parents find the idea of bringing their children up without belief in Santa, Easter Bunnies and Fairies to be deficient or even cruel in some cases.  From an early age we are taught that fairytale like beliefs are acceptable even desirable.