Why Beliefs Matter
Whenever I think of beliefs, I think of religion. It’s a bit close-minded, I’ll admit, but there are other concepts that come to mind. Believing in religion, believing in friends and family, and even believing in yourself and the things that you do; it’s something that everyone does, though some of us, and even me, may say otherwise.
To me, personally, religion and spirituality are things that are near and dear to me. But it wasn’t always like that. Back then, I grew up in a place of worship, and I was more than skeptical. More often than not I went because of my parents, and I stayed because of my former best friend. Bust as I got older, as I began learning more about the world, I slowly to realize just how important it was for me to have faith in something, whether that be in God, my loved ones, or even the hobbies I do. It helped me put the world into perspective, and gave me a way to frame my own view on the world.
Despite what many of us may think, beliefs are important, and are often a way that can help us shape our viewpoints. Whether we’re atheist or Christian, agnostic or Pagan, it’s important for us to cultivate those beliefs. After all, having these beliefs helps us both mentally and emotionally and below are a few reasons why.
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1. Gives us a support system
Having these beliefs let’s us engage with others who have the same beliefs as we do. We get to build up communities with those who have the same beliefs we do. It makes it easy for us to care about one another, regardless of race or past prejudices. In fact, many support groups have arisen from the same beliefs, and it isn’t that uncommon for people to come together during a time of persecution. While the individuals that comprise a particular belief system may vary, you come together and simply share your ideas among like-minded individuals. It’s a rather reassuring feeling.
2. Helps us become passionate about things we care about
When we have a particular belief, we tend to empathize and support our own beliefs more than others. And while we do respect other beliefs,we still become more passionate about our beliefs than others. Through these passions, we leave our own negativity at the door. We forget ourselves and our problems, as we immerse ourselves in our beliefs. It doesn’t just help ourselves; in fact, there are a variety of beliefs that promote the well-being of humanity. For example, many Christian churches have taken to helping the poor and other marginalized groups, despite what other branches may say. Islamic Help is a Muslim organization that offers relief to people in need. Through these deep desires to promote our own ideas, we’re able to provide many benefits in our communities.
3. Offers new perspectives for other people to explore
We know that many people have different beliefs. By having those beliefs, we’re able to talk about our beliefs in a way that’s respectful. Whether that be through social media such as Facebook and Twitter, or even face-to-face, by providing a rich discussion, we are exposed to other beliefs that may not necessarily be the same as ours. We learn how to respect other people’s cultures, opinions, and past, and view them in a way that helps and tear down walls and build bridges that connects people.
Conclusion
Of course, with head beliefs there exists the reality that people may instead tear down others. We may end up not listening to people. We may end up causing more harm than good with our beliefs. We may even turn to more extreme methods to shut people down, especially those who disagree with us. Even so, beliefs have helped us form communities, and shape society in a way that helps promote discussion and growth, both as individuals and as humanity in general.
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