10e@hpcvia.cv.hp.com (Steve_Tenney) (03/27/91)
My reason for posting this survey was from a purely psychological perspective.
I'm interested in how people's belief systems affect their mental health and
behavior. When I came across this article in the Oregonian about this landlady
and what I regard as very superstitious, ignorant, "dark ages" thinking, it
brought back some unpleasant memories of an ex-girlfriend's mother, who had a
similar mind set (she often had whole days ruined because of "Satan").
Unfortunately, this mind set, I suspect, was very much ingrained in our culture
up to the last century, and it may still influence people's behavior whether
they are athiests, pagan or whatever. Simply calling yourself an athiest
or pagan is using a Judeo-Chrisitian term, and so your belief system may
partially be a reaction to that mind set.
IMHO, the world could use a lot more honesty these days. I think people,
whether they're a fundamentalist on one side or an atheist on the other should
really challenge their own belief systems. What do you really believe and
why? If you're a fundamentalist have you been rail-roaded, programmed, or
even "brainwashed" into into your beliefs? Are you just mimicking those
you follow and patterning your life out of pre-packaged dogma? Or have you
really thought it through, challenged the principles of your belief system.
Are your beliefs based on/from guilt and fear? Have you really thought about
questions like "Why are there so many athiests out in the world who have more
empathy, kindness and unselfish mercy towards their fellow humans than a lot
of people who claim they are Christian and lie, cheat and defraud their fellow
humans?" and "Why would a trully benevolent God have created such a place
called Hell, where there is eternal suffering?"
If you're an atheist, what do you really think about if there is an after life?
Or can't you be bothered with such thoughts. We all assume that we are going
to be alive in the next month, week, day or hour. Perhaps if we lived our
lives as if we only had a day left to live, we would be more honest at least.
"Is there such a thing as karma, whether it's attitudinal karma or not?"
If we spend more time challenging our own belief systems instead of other's,
maybe we can improve our own mental health (is your belief system causing you
any neurotic behavior?) and our relationships with others. Sometimes it
takes courage to do such self-examination and re-evaluation. It may even bring
you back to where you originally started, but even so, at least you'll
know it's what you really believe and you can stand firmer on those beliefs.
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Steve Tenney | "Were you born with that personality
Hewlett-Packard Corvallis, ORE| or was it government issue?"
10e@hpcvia.CV.HP.COM | Lonnie to Jennell in "Personna"
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