Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Dysfunctional beliefs

Religions and spiritual teachings are harmless
as long as you don't take them too seriously.

If you are fully convinced that Christianity is the only belief system that is true
and that those who don't like your interpretation of the Bible will burn in hell,
then you will create problems for yourself and for other people.
You have not secured an eternal life because of this belief.

If you truly believe in ghosts, astrology and evil spirits,
then you are nuts.

If you believe that egotism and greed must have free reign,
that a totally free market is the answer to all problems
and that the super rich should not pay tax
then you are contributing to endless troubles in the world,
climate change, pollution, exploitation.

If you truly believe that life is totally meaningless, then you have a problem.
You have a dysfunctional belief that has nothing to do with the truth.
Etc. etc.

The stronger your dysfunctional beliefs and convictions are,
the more problems they will cause.

However, when you realize that a belief is really just a belief,
a hypothesis, a bunch of thoughts, then you can relax a little
and you will feel better.

And if it should struck you that life may be extremely important
and that all creatures have some kind of incomprehensible purpose
then you will feel a very pleasant kind of relief.