A lesson on beliefs?

Question

What do you all think of this quote?
Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.
The Buddha

Answer 1

I follow it wholeheartedly. I am a Buddhist. This quote is one of the reasons I converted. I do not trust any religion that is not willing to admit to the possibility that it may make a mistake or that believes it is the only "right" path.

Answer 2

It makes sense to me. I like to keep an open mind as much as possible, unless something is obviously idiotic and that I guess, is a subjective assessment. I have found, that for a time, I trusted easily and then, due to life, the older I got, the more cynical I became. Now that I am reaching towards middle age, I find that I am wanting to believe in things again. I find myself missing old family traditions and I have found myself growing closer to God, as I see him or her. I think it's a natural progression that when people get older and can envision their own mortality, they want and need to believe in something to maybe feel like their lives had some meaning or to help take away the fear of death. You ever notice how many born again Christians there are on Death Row?
I have always respected the writings of The Buddah and I have a particular affection for The Dali Lama and have read several of his works.
But in the end, I believe that people generally want to believe in things that bring them comfort in times of need or sorrow. If it makes them feel better, then it's a good thing.

Answer 3

This assumes everyone is sane and can make reasonable choices on their own. It also opens believers up to genocide and hate among other things. If someone truly believes killing all muslims would benefit the world then they would be encouraged to "accept it and live up to it" Man is not capable of making of his own moral guide, God knew this and laid it out for us in the Bible.

Answer 4

Very good thoughts about beliefs. I believe it says don't do or believe in something just because it's always been done a certain way. Think for yourself with rational thought.

Answer 5

I think it rings true. It sounds like an expectation to make your faith personal and this is a wise thing to do. It is about personal ownership of your values...these are the only beliefs that are in any way sustainable when the rubber meets the road in our lives. If you don't fully believe in something, it is useless when you need it most. So I think it is important to KNOW what you know, and to know WHY.

I have had to scrap a little bit with some of my Christian friends and elders who tell me what to believe. Then I have had to listen to their accusations that I am trying to pick and choose my values based on what is easy and what is hard for me personally. But that is not true. My values are very "big picture" and very Christian. It used to bother me until I realized that my relationship with God is between me and God and I don't have to prove anything to anyone else. I am held responsible for my relationships with others but there are some things where we respect each other more by agreeing to disagree. So I have pretty much stopped trying to argue my beliefs with anyone. I just live my life as much as I can in accordance with my beliefs.

I think all those things you mentioned have value, at least forces to be reckoned with, even if I would want to examine each thoroughly before just accepting it into my belief system. Even our most original thought is borrowed from what we have learned, even if our own value turns out to be in rebellion of what we have learned. It's kind of like Mexican food from a shitty American restaurant. You assemble things differently and dip it in a different sauce, and you say you have something different but it is pretty similar ingredients all the way around. There isn't much new under the sun in terms of religious thought and it is really hard to escape the context of how we were raised. So those things are not going to be ignored by most people and Buddha's ideal may not be totally possible in the hearts of modern people. Everyone has a pretty deep seated frame of reference that gives foundation to their own ideas.

Having said that, I think the more you live life, and put your values to the test, no matter how you came to accept them, the more they start to become personal...and applicable to your own life. It may be that your value system is the only way you have to make sense of your circumstances. That's okay. Sooner or later we come to situations where you get stretched, and your cookie cutter values start to get more unique to you. At the same time, you become more comfortable saying that you subscribe to a certain idea.

In my experience with Christianity, I have had to admit to myself that the most likely reason I embraced it in the first place is because 1) it was the religion of my parents because 2) I am an American. If I had been born into any other country and/or into another faith, I would be just as dedicated to it as I am to Christianity now. It gives me a pretty unique viewpoint (among my friends and family) that helps me to understand other people, and to be tolerant of people who think differently. But that doesn't stop me from having a rock solid faith that Jesus died for me and believing fully that I need him in my life...and this is my testimony...that while I may not be perfect and my life is far from a bed of roses, my life makes a lot more sense with Jesus in it.

My faith has come hard for me. Many many battles fought inside to put those values to the test, even battles to lay them aside. But I keep coming back to Jesus for comfort and as my personal role model for how to live my life.

Answer 6

I like it. It represents a positive perspective on skepticism. I think if more people followed this advice our world would be a better place.

Answer 7

I think it's too long to read.

The regular American version:
"you can't judge a book by it's cover"

Pretty much the same, close enough...

Answer 8

Sounds good to me.

Answer 9

The Holy Bible is the word of God. And faith comes by hearing the word of God. Buddha is mistaken. God cannot be pleased without faith.

Answer 10

Buddha rocks, what can I say!