The Importance of Testing Your Beliefs

Our beliefs, be they religious, political, ethical, or pretty much anything one might qualify as "subjective," define who we are in many ways and can help - or hinder - our mental health. Unhealthy beliefs can cause distress and dis-ease, and if we cling to them without examination, we leave ourselves vulnerable to pain and harm we might otherwise escape. On the flipside, healthy beliefs can give us a sense of peace, belonging, and hope.

There are some people who believe that it's not good to interact with people of varying beliefs, as they might "be a bad influence," or "test your faith." I feel like if your "faith" is so weak that it can't stand up to a little scrutiny, it was on some pretty shaky ground to begin with.

Questioning your beliefs doesn't mean that you will ultimately toss them aside. It might mean that you have a deeper and more meaningful understanding of them, appreciate them more, and gain even more benefit from having taken the time to dive deep and explore. If you are just going through the motions, are you really getting moral and spiritual guidance? Or are you just fulfilling yet another obligation?

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I make it a practice to seek out "the other side" in pretty much all of these "subjective" categories. I'm far left politically (by US terms) but I read Condoleezza Rice's memoir in order to understand "the other side's" political feelings; I was raised Irish Catholic but went on a spiritual quest that included everything from exploring an Evangelical church to reading about Islam and atheism, to taking meditation classes and exploring metaphysical ideas, to deep-diving back into Catholicism since I never had a deep understanding of it growing up (Catechism class as a child is super basic and shallow), reading theology, history, and apologetics, and ultimately settling on polytheist, animist Paganism, Druidry in specific. I was raised a meat eater and then became lacto-ovo vegetarian, transitioned to veganism, and then back again to omnivorism due to all my food allergies, but I still kept reading about the subject, ranging from Vegan guides, nutrition, and philosophy to The Vegetarian Myth, a book by an ex-vegan who now sees veganism as harmful, books like Wheat Belly, Gut and Psychology Syndrome (the GAPS diet), Deep Nutrition, keto books, and the fish-oil-and-bone-broth-loving one that I can't remember the name of at the moment, lol. Basically, I wasn't afraid to hear the opposing argument, and not only find what works best for me, but to learn from different ideas, see where they differ or are similar, and realize that "the other side" generally isn't an evil demon who enjoys eating babies and torturing adorable panda bears. I may not agree with them; I may think some of them are terribly wrongheaded or even foolish, but I'll hear what they have to say to at least some extent (there is a line; some people think that they get to keep talking at you forever, and they certainly don't. No one is entitled to waste your time or be hateful or bigoted at you; if you say no, that is a complete sentence. For instance, I don't want to hear a white supremacist try and tell me why bigotry and racism is great).

I feel like I benefit from all this exploration; not only because I learn more about the world and the people in it, but because my beliefs are rooted in something deeper than just "going along with what you've been told." As children, we tend to accept things unquestioningly, because we imagine that Adults Know Things; but if you've been an adult for any amount of time you begin to realize that we are just winging it too.

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So, to circle it back around: what does this have to do with mental health?

Well, if you were raised in a church that told you that you were inherently bad and sinful, that you constantly had to beg forgiveness for your very nature which is wrong and easily corrupted, you're not going to have beans for self esteem or self confidence, are you? If you were raised in a church that told you The Other is evil, the world is full of sinners who want to corrupt you, who want to corrupt your children, who work with the devil to destroy everything good and pure, well, you're going to be paranoid and terrified and distrustful, right? If your political leaders tell you that immigrants are out to take your jobs or rape your wives, that your neighbors who are less fortunate want to take what's yours, that poor people are lazy and crazy and on drugs, well, you're not going to feel safe or have any community or compassion, are you?

But if you were raised in a church that taught you that God is love, that the holy way is peace, and that it is right to share what you have with those less fortunate, then you're going to be more loving, peaceful, and kind, right? If you were taught that the Universe has your back, that you are unconditionally loved, and that we're all in this together, well, you're going to be less afraid, more connected, and accepting of your own self, flaws and all, aren't you? If you know that your society has a safety net, that your neighbors will look out for you, and that compassion helps addicts better than condemnation and incarceration, then you are more likely to feel safe, to know that you can try that new business or go back to school without the threat of hunger and homelessness, and treat yourself or others you know who struggle with addiction with care and understanding.

You can't help the society or community that you were raised in. I was raised with some very negative, toxic beliefs that I am still struggling to unpack today. But you can do that work. You can explore other ways of being. It can be challenging, but most things that are worthwhile are.

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Find the ways that work for you. See what is out there. Make your own path. Feel what is good for your soul. Be the generation that sees the inherited trauma and toxic beliefs for what they are and leaves them in the past where they belong. Not only might you heal yourself, but you also might heal the world. 💚

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Questioning our beliefs is crucial. Once we think that we have answers and that we know what's going on, we lose the perspective of wonder, learning and curiosity, and thus our spark of life is dimmed. Constant expansion thus demands constant revision of what we think. Great post, man! Thanks for sharing!

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Once we think that we have answers and that we know what's going on, we lose the perspective of wonder, learning and curiosity

Hard yes. I've been bumping up against a lot of people who see themselves as The Authority on things that you can't really possibly be authoritative about, such as spiritual matters. Like, you can be An Authority about, say, what certain scriptures say, or the history of a practice, etc., but you can't be The Authority about the truth of it. About the meaning of it, or the feeling of it. You can't be The Authority about other peoples' experience. But they're running around telling other people that their perspective about their own spiritual beliefs is wrong. I'm just always floored by that.
When people ask me for a quick and dirty explanation of Druidry, the first thing out of my mouth generally is that if you ask 20 Druids what they believe, you'll get 20 answers, because we don't have dogma. But some people have their Authority hat on and imagine that we do.
Edit for clarity: I'm not saying don't debate the meaning of things; I think that's actually really healthy. I'm just talking about the people who are Wholly Convinced That They Are The Wise Ones And Everyone Else Is A Fool And Wrong.

 3 years ago  

"the other side" generally isn't an evil demon who enjoys eating babies and torturing adorable panda bears

They're NOT???? What!

I always think of the propaganda of WW2 and would like to think we are beyond that:

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We're not though, are we - it's in the interests of particular groups that create narratives to control and dominate, and media has just got more clever.

Raising people to QUESTION and understand the other isn't in the best interests of some kinds of identity building.

Loved this post - I think the best kind of mind we can have is an enquiring, questioning one, and this post reminds me yet again about how awesome you are.

Doing the work and being challenged, feeling uncomfortable and shattering world views are opportunities for growth, always.


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Oh, for sure. Lots of fear mongering, especially in politics. Lots of propaganda taught in schools. Lots of "othering" in religions. If everyone is busy fighting each other, then they don't fight the system.

And speaking of propaganda posters! ;)

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