When someone holds two conflicting ideas in mind at once, do you think it is likely to be intentional hypocrisy? Or are they simply a victim of cognitive dissonance? How does this apply to you?
Share why if you wish.
Category: Belief
When Have You Had A Sudden Change Of Viewpoint?
As humans, we try to be consistent. However, sometimes circumstances lead to a sudden change of perspective. Has this happened to you?
One reason why this sudden change might occur is simply through collecting additional data. You might start out believing, say, that Columbus discovered America. You add more information to the picture, and then finally some piece of data makes you realize that it isn’t true.
Another way is a sudden re-framing of the data you have. An example of this is the move ‘The Sixth Sense’ with its twist ending. The revelation makes you reinterpret what happened all throughout the movie.
Sometimes, you can change your mind just by thinking about the situation. You might just realize — by yourself or with the help of someone else, like a therapist — that you were simply wrong. You never bothered to examine your beliefs, or were blinded by emotion or fear, or some other reason. But suddenly your error is exposed, and it changes how you think.
There are other ways you might change your mind quite suddenly. Has it happened to you? What led to the change? And how did you change the way you think about similar things because of it?
Related questions: What is necessary to change your mind?What beliefs do you have that might be wrong?How do you adopt new ideas?
What The Hell?
What the hell?
It feels like our country has shifted into the bizarro world. Whether it’s rules, social norms, or politics, what was once accepted is now rejected, and what was previously dismissed is now embraced. Ideas we believed a generation, a decade, or even a year ago now seem outdated or have been completely overturned. What the hell?
For example, overt lying is now common in politics, and most of the public accepts it. In fact, spreading lies is widespread. However, not long ago, when those lies were exposed, a politician’s approval ratings would drop—unless, of course, they soon showed genuine remorse.
Or, whatever happened to treating people with respect, kindness, and a little grace? We live in an era where friendships are ending because everything has become political, and disagreements turn into hatred. Family members don’t talk to each other or even disown one another over political differences. And some politicians label their opponents as evil or even compare them to subhuman creatures — for example, our president often calls opponents animals or vermin. When and why have we let so much harshness into our private and public lives?
Lastly, social media isn’t bringing us together, even though we can connect with people across the globe. Instead, our feeds are filled with rumors, lies, and bullying, which turn people away from forming new relationships—unless, of course, the people we meet share our beliefs.
We’re confused, angry, overwhelmed — and worst of all, numb. When everything feels upside down, it’s hard to know where to turn or whom to trust. So many have checked out, opting for apathy instead of action, because what good does caring do anymore? Every day brings a new contradiction, a new reason to shout, yet we stay silent. Or worse, we laugh it off. Cynicism has replaced hope. We’ve started accepting the absurd as normal because fighting it seems pointless. But shouldn’t we fight? Shouldn’t we care? Shouldn’t we be trying to find ways to rebuild community?
What’s going on? What the hell?
Related questions: Why do we put up with unhappiness? What is truth? Where is society failing? How do you deal with uncertainty?
Are Religion And Morality Linked?
It is conventional wisdom that religion and morality are inextricably linked together. But is that really true?
Many people define themselves, at least partially, by their faith. This makes sense. What you believe is often learned from family members. Your place in the community might very well be based on attending religious services.
Naturally, people of faith tend to think that what they believe is superior to other faiths or beliefs. After all, if they thought something else was superior, they would believe that instead.
That sense of superiority sometimes takes the form of moral superiority. Your religious text teaches the proper way to behave and to act if you want to be rewarded when you die. The rites that you follow and the sacrifices you make lead you to a better life.
And yet, we all know religious people who are not, in fact, morally superior. They might do horrible things, in service of themselves or justified through their religion. Being religious, by itself, is not enough to be a good person.
However, there are moral lessons to be learned from any religious text. Religious leaders do have wisdom to impart. Religion can teach us how to treat our neighbors, our family, and our community.
Is it true that religion and morality are linked? If so, then, how can it be that each faith and each sect thinks that it is the one, true path? They can’t all be right, can they? And what about people who do not follow any particular belief system?
Related questions: What does spirituality mean to you? Are science and religion compatible? What beliefs do you have that might be wrong? What do you believe?
Religious, Agnostic, Or Atheist?
Would you describe yourself as religious, agnostic, or atheist? How does it compare to how you were raised?
Share why if you wish.
Religious, Agnostic, Or Atheist?