Realism or Delusion? How Our Beliefs Affect Our World
Posted: Thursday, June 10, 2010
by Camille Strate
JoyZAChoice
Everyone is entitled to their beliefs. Lord knows, we all have them. And some are more prone to expounding than others. Religious zealots, political activists, animal rights activists, parents, preachers, teachers, gurus.... on and on the list goes. Everybody's got their beliefs, which leads to their opinions, which leads to the constant tug-of-war.
Push, push, push.
Tug, tug, tug.
I know...I used to be one of them. Opinionated as hell, always ready to prove how right I was. So I know how passionate folks can get when they're trying to convince you of their 'rightness' and your 'wrongness'.
Case in point:
I have an Aunt who is a “New Christian" (these are her words, not mine.) From the beginning of her new-found faith, every time we'd speak she would always ask, “Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your lord and saviour?"
Back then (this was quite a few years ago) I was still very much ANTI-religion. That is to say, any religion was, in my personal opinion, a bunch of baloney. They all carried with them the same commonality: There is only ONE god. And it's the one I found through.....(insert religious tenet here).
Hmmmmmmmm. Well then, I'd ask, if there is only one god, why do you get so riled up when someone calls it by a different name? Or honors it in a different way? Or practices that devotion differently than you do? Why does it matter, if there is only ONE?
Each time we'd talk, we'd go through this same scenario, until I got so bored I decided I had to find an alternative to this agonizing repetition. (It kind of reminded me of that movie, “Groundhog Day". GEEZ.) So, one day, rather than responding as I always did (I'll spare you that part) I asked her my own question:
“Is there any way I could ever convince YOU that your beliefs are 'wrong' and mine are 'right'?"
BINGO.
There was a very pregnant pause, after which she simply replied, “No."
“So then, how about we call a truce? How about you do your thing with your god, and let me do mine. If you're so certain that I'm going to hell because of my beliefs, how 'bout you just keep praying for my soul and let's leave it at that? Since you're so sure that only Jesus can save me, how 'bout we leave it up to him?"
We never spoke about it again. Sadly, the phone calls also got less and less frequent and when we did speak, they were short and tense. It's been more than 3 months since our last call. Guess she decided to leave it up to Jesus after all.
Anyway, something came to my attention and it's got me all fired up (again!). No...not about religion. That was just an example of how resistance people are to change...of any kind. (It also happens to be the most volatile....for most folks.)
I'm a big fan of evolution. That is to say, I choose to believe that we are ALL evolving...all the time. Some of those evolutions are for our “greater good". Some...not so much. Technology can be as beneficial as it can be destructive. From the first formula (E=MC2) to the making of the first atom bomb...all the way to our current abuse of cellular technology (text messages? internet addictions? Online pornography? You get my drift.) Some evolutions are leading us to our demise, while others are leading us to a more unified planet. Just depends on who you listen to or where you choose to focus your attention. Either way, evolutions are inevitable. We either evolve or we become extinct.
So today I was led to a site where I found a video by a woman named Barbara Ehrenreich. She is an “acclaimed journalist, author and political activist". In this video she talks about how the 'trend' of positive thinking is “utterly delusional." It is the reason we're in the mess we're in. We have turned from 'realism' to this fairy tale of an idea that if we think positive thoughts we can change our world. She also goes on to bad-mouth physics (both 'quantum' and otherwise), even though in her next breath she states that she is no scientist. Yet she finds the claims of physicists and other 'new age' teachers to be our one-way ticket to hell. It's their fault that people are so lazy. It's their fault that folks are escaping 'reality' and holing up in some candle-lit room to meditate on peace. The world is going to hell in a handbasket, and it's all because of “positive thinking".
HUH?
The fact that I actually watched the whole video (10:22 in length) tells me that I still have a bit of an inner masochist to deal with. (grin) But for some reason I just had to see it to the end. Maybe it was my Inner Optimist hoping she'd come full circle. Maybe I was hoping she'd make some kind of helpful point. Or maybe I was just lookin' for a fight. Whatever the case, I watched it to the end...and then I posted a comment (how could I NOT?!), asking her how she thought this lecture might be serving anyone. In what way did any of this contribute to a better world? (What I really wanted to say was, “Too bad you've got your head so far up your butt that you can't see past your own narrow 'reality'." But I didn't (say that). Yay for me.) And then I got even more fired up. Because I went and read more about her... (there's that inner masochist again.) and was bummed to find just how much of an audience she has.
Can't help but wonder who those folks are either.
Bottom line is this:
If we use the power of positive thought to shift from a less-than-joyful place, how is this delusional? If we use this power to change anything for the better, how is this delusional? What you call 'reality' may not be anything like my version. But if we're doing the best we can to make our lives and the world a better place, how can that be construed as anything 'bad'?
We are all entitled to our beliefs. And our opinions. And our methods of practicing said beliefs/opinions. What may serve all of us a bit more is to remember that we need not prove anyone wrong in order to be right. We need not push our beliefs on others, nor condemn them for theirs. We DO need to respect each other well enough to live and let live. Whether you believe that 'positive thinking' is delusional or not, the choice still remains with the individual. If you don't want me kickin' on your stuff, quit kickin' on mine.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh. I feel much better now.
This Article has been viewed 1,293 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (10 total)Proselytizing has nothing to do with goodness and everything to do with control.It's no different than a sales pitch from a used car salesman. The best response is that the bible is a bunch of Jewish myths and legends, and that God has never been proven to exist, therefore all Christian arguments are baseless. The Abrahamic religions - Judaism, Christianity and Islam are the most pushy in the world, and the most violent. When speaking with Christians here in America, you can see why!Great article, don't allow christian insanity to affect your good sense.
This is old news, but, yeah, what you said.
I think this is a great article Camille, it's a breath of fresh air - and of course, I'm right!
I am in sales and I know that you cannot convince others of your beliefs - regardless of how strong or how right they may be to you. Nice work.
I've always believed everyone is entitled to their own opinion. I've never understood as I 've witnessed two people go at it til they're red in the face, trying to convince the other that they were right. Who really cares? It's their opinion and they're entitled to it. I think it's a shame you and your Aunt don't speak due to a difference of opinion on religion. Surely there's more to the relationship than that to focus on? As for thinking positive, I'm all for it. I think it gives people strength and can get them through tough times however, there's a point (and maybe that's what the woman in the video meant) when you have to be realistic enough to realize not everything works out for the best, all the time. I think it's possible to live life optimistically but remain realistic at the same time. Great topic Camille.
Hi Camille.Brilliant article. Great example. But I bet you knew I'd say that. I'm in the choir on this one. :) I don't think I'll be looking at the video. Not sure I have the fortitude for it.But a big thank you for sharing your thoughts on the issue. It's always enlightening.Hugs,Dianne
WOW!! What an excellent article, Camille. I could not agree more with you.
Interesting article. I think we need to remain open minded enough to work on improving our spiritual growth on a daily basis.No doubt about it - our very belief structure affects how we see events and ultimately how we lead our lives and interact with the world places and things. Yet in many cases it is simple acceptance that matters.
Camille,Nicely put, well stated-though a tough subject.We all spend a fair amount of time building those ‘bubbles’ around us. At some point ‘sense of security’ comes into play-we have to rationalize a universe that we neither consciously nor ‘sub’ realize we don’t have a clue to how the whole thing works (If someone is certain they know how it all works, slowly walk away-don’t turn your back on them until you a good distance). But we all try to grab onto something and manipulate it to call our own. No two will ever be the same.Your point is good, ‘so does your ‘bubble’ fit me’ answer: No. But I wonder if part of someone’s security (Bubble) is a need to share it with others and try to convince them that they have found ‘the’ secret. I often find the more secure folks (with themselves) the more they are comfortable with the point of view you seem to be moving toward. But if you are there, be compassionate to those who are not-it all works together.
Love this. Puter running slow tonight so was only going to comment "love this" but can't it seems. Anyway, love this.
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