2007-02-09 11:08:20 · 21 answers · asked by ? 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Walter Lord wrote a wonderful book about the attack on Pearl Harbor called "Day of Infamy". It contains a scene that I will always remember. Just as the attack is starting, and Japanese planes are attacking the U.S.S. California a bewildered seaman comes out on deck and asks what is happening. As the bombs come screaming in he is told (in rather rough language) that the Japanese are attacking; to which he responds "Gee... I didn't even know they was sore at us!"
I think this shows rather well the error of saying 'Nope, it just matters if it is true for me". There is no such thing as "true for me". The sailor didn't know, and didn't believe, that the Japanese were planning an attack... but that didn't stop him being attacked, (and probably even being killed in the attack).
Either something is true or it isn't, there is no "true for you" or "true for me". Furthermore the truth of a particular belief is in no way related to how many people believe it, or how easy it is to believe. (The Sun didn't go around the Earth just because everyone on Earth thought it did. Similarly, all those people trapped on the top of the World Trade Center didn't make it out, even though they may have really wanted to believe that help was on the way and helocopters would get them out.) Truth is both objective and unforgiving.
So yes, it matters very very much if your beliefs are true. Your beliefs dictate how you interact with the Universe, and the Universal laws of cause and effect don't take your beliefs into account. (Hence the phrase "Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time....) If you act upon untrue (false) information you will make mistakes, and mistakes normally lead to bad results.
2007-02-09 11:26:33 · answer #1 · answered by Larry R 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
does it matter to who or what?
To me? yes. I base my life's choices on the things I believe. If they were proven untrue, I would have to rethink some of my actions and adjust accordingly. While I am willing to do that it might cause awkward situations. Reason to be very careful about the things you believe in ;)
To others? I don't know. I suppose since my beliefs affect my behaviors I would say it affects others I interact with. Again, reason to be careful.
In general? No, I don't think my life will have a severe impact on the course of history one way or the other.
2007-02-10 02:45:49 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it matters to me but more importantly, it matters to God.
"Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks." John 4:23
2007-02-09 11:33:14 · answer #3 · answered by Micah 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Belief is faith. And the Bible says that there is One Lord, One Faith, One baptism. We can only enter into Heaven by believing what is in the Bible. I was raised with a lot of beliefs that I thought were in the Bible and took it for granted that they were. Until I had a Bible Study and read for myself and found out that many of my beliefs were ungodly heresies! I would suggest a New King James Bible for starting out. I have a King James for myself because for the simple fact that it is translated from the original languages. There are over 5,000 ancient documents and manuscripts to support this. I wouldn't trust my eternal soul to anything else. I don't take man's word for anything, unless I can read it for myself out of the King James. Jesus does love you very much. Trust in Him. He wants you to get to know Him.
2007-02-09 11:28:35 · answer #4 · answered by michael m 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my life matters so little in the grand scheme of things, i really could care less if my beliefs were true or not. nothing will change how i am going to end.
2007-02-09 11:21:14 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, what if someone truly believed they must destroy humanity? Humanity probably wouldn't say that's a true belief, but that it matters.
2007-02-09 11:14:08 · answer #6 · answered by Wizdom Bomb 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My beliefs are as true as anything I have ever known, and I can prove their validity in numerous, concrete ways.
I change them whenever necessary, and to me they are ALWAYS true. Other opinions of them do not matter.
2007-02-09 11:15:43 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The thing about beliefs is that it doesn't matter if they are true or not, it is whatever is right for you. No one has 100% fail proof facts that their religion is the only one.
2007-02-09 11:12:16 · answer #8 · answered by Je veux changer le monde 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
If I believe that the car heading toward me is not going to stop it might make a difference. How much more in eternal things?
2007-02-09 11:17:45 · answer #9 · answered by beek 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
John 8:32;
John 17:17;
You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.
Sanctify them with thy truth, thy word is truth.
2007-02-09 11:18:23 · answer #10 · answered by jeni 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋