Beautiful Beliefs (1)

Amy Palko has started a group writing project called Beautiful Beliefs, in which she offers a post every Wednesday that begins with ‘I believe that...’ and invites others to write posts about their beliefs and share through her site.


So, here goes:

I believe that....

Sharing what we believe can be difficult. I am, now, tentative about writing this post and offering it to the web for others to see, read and comment on. This is not because I don’t have firmly held beliefs, or that I feel that my beliefs are objectionable or offensive, but because I don’t expect other people to share them. I am vegetarian because I believe that cows and pigs are no different from dogs, cats, rabbits, and since we don’t have to eat meat to survive, killing animals for food (or to breed them in poor conditions in order to keep stocks high) is unnecessary. But, I don’t think that everyone else should have to be vegetarian if they do not share my belief. I don’t like getting into debates over vegetarianism, not because I believe I am wrong, but because I don’t believe that I can or should tell my omnivore friends what they ought to have in their diet. I don’t feel a need to convert them to my point of view.

This is why I find sharing these sorts of beliefs difficult. My beliefs are not theirs, and theirs are not mine.

I believe in God, but I am not out to convert atheists, agnostics, or convince those of other religions that my God is the one and only. Maybe He isn’t. Maybe in other religions He is called something else, or has many faces / incarnations. I do not mean here to exclude those with spirituality outside of religion, either. I believe that belief - faith - like this is personal, not corporate or competitive, and that we should allow each other to go on in own our faith/beliefs, as long as these do not hurt other people.

I wish people would not challenge me on my beliefs, not because they are shaky, but because it requires me to respond in kind – to challenge theirs in an attempt to persuade them to my way of thinking.

There are, of course, exceptions to this sort of relativism (practices which cause any sort of pain to other people, for example) but for the most part, I believe that openness and acceptance of difference would make the world a happier place.

Amy’s writing circle invites us to share our beliefs and to connect, leave comments, and lend support to each other in what makes us ourselves. I think this is a wonderful idea. A place to share beliefs without pressing them or overtly challenging others - to discuss without judgment. I love and respect Amy’s warmth and openness and will try, every week, to share a bit of what I believe.