It's All Because of Ignorance
Today I would like to talk a little bit about judgment. Now, those of you who have been around a long while, will know that this is something I have already spoken of on many occasions in the past. I want to touch on it again, though, because I believe one just can't touch on it enough!
I would love to fully adopt the mindset of the Lithuanian. The Lithuanians say that they have no business judging the homeless people who join them for their rides on the public train systems in Lithuania; their subways, trams, and buses. They say "I have no right to make judgments about this homeless person, because I don't know what his story is." Now, at first it's easy to say "Oh I'm like that too!" But when faced with real-life situations, you realize that you're not really like that, at all! Why? Because you are almost sure that you know the homeless person's life story, anyway! "Oh he's lazy and never worked in his life, that's why he's destitute like that!" But how do you know that you could have never been born in his exact same position? If you were the son if this homeless man, would you think otherwise? Having known his story and having lived that same life? So that's just one example.
I have come to know that the people who make judgments the quickest and the most frequently, are those who are ignorant of many things. The less experience you've had, the more you are going to jump to conclusions, the less you know, the faster you are going to think that you know something! For example, I have already long learned that all of the judgments I did have in the past, were based upon my own ignorance, and nothing more, nothing less! Plain ignorance! Take Australians for instance, I used to believe that, since they were the descendants of vagabonds and outlaws, they would surely be the wildest, most stubborn and rude people on earth! Now, this was based purely on my ignorance! It's only later when I found myself in situations wherein nobody else would care about me other than the Australians (when I got lost during my travels or had no idea how to get around by myself), that I got to know Australians and know that they are truly the most humble, non-judgmental people on earth. In fact, it is embedded into their culture not to brag about anything! If you brag about anything in your life, you are looked down upon as a braggart. They are so humble, and so completely non-judgmental, and then you will learn that's because they also have the most life experience! Australians are very well-travelled people, they are extremely open-minded to other cultures and beliefs, there is not a single cocky bone in their bodies! They are relaxed in every situation and comfortable with anything. Another example is my once-upon-a-time ignorance of atheists! Being raised in a Christian family, I once believed that atheists were people with no hearts, people who were most likely to hurt other people, who were always angry and were probably psychopaths! Again, that was all my own ignorance that formed from being raised in a close-minded Christian environment. That mindset persisted until I finally was fortunate enough to stay with an atheist family, I didn't know they were atheists until I was in their home sleeping in one of their beds, and eating their home cooked meals! I can honestly say, that, the Atheist family I stayed with, were the people in my life who have treated me the kindest. And in all sincerity, as well! It was not a staged kindness that they didn't actually want to perform; it was a kindness and a care that came from their hearts! Now, that's not something I can say about any Christians I have known in my life, not even my own family! The atheist family gave me more comfort and acceptance in 1 week, than I have witnessed from my own Christian family in all my life! Now, I'm just being honest here, if you're reading this and going to hate me for this, well, I can't make up stories, and I can only speak for myself, I cannot speak for everyone else! This is my experience in my life! Generally, Christians do not accept you for a variety of reasons; and that includes envy. Atheists don't have time to envy; they feel that we make our own lots in life, not God, therefore if you have more, then that's your own doing and good for you! They also believe in the need to be moral in and of themselves, hence, there are many atheists who are fine, admirable people, because of the fact that they take it upon themselves to be moral and good; they don't cast those things upon the shoulders of God. Now, I am not saying that we should all become Atheists, and I am certainly not an Atheist, but what I am discussing here, is the prevalence of judgmentalism and how the root of it is most definitely ignorance!
Whenever I begin to pass judgments on someone simply because of the country of their origin, their accent, or their spiritual beliefs, I immediately take it upon myself to correct myself and say "You're being ignorant again!" I encourage everyone else to do the same.
I would love to fully adopt the mindset of the Lithuanian. The Lithuanians say that they have no business judging the homeless people who join them for their rides on the public train systems in Lithuania; their subways, trams, and buses. They say "I have no right to make judgments about this homeless person, because I don't know what his story is." Now, at first it's easy to say "Oh I'm like that too!" But when faced with real-life situations, you realize that you're not really like that, at all! Why? Because you are almost sure that you know the homeless person's life story, anyway! "Oh he's lazy and never worked in his life, that's why he's destitute like that!" But how do you know that you could have never been born in his exact same position? If you were the son if this homeless man, would you think otherwise? Having known his story and having lived that same life? So that's just one example.
I have come to know that the people who make judgments the quickest and the most frequently, are those who are ignorant of many things. The less experience you've had, the more you are going to jump to conclusions, the less you know, the faster you are going to think that you know something! For example, I have already long learned that all of the judgments I did have in the past, were based upon my own ignorance, and nothing more, nothing less! Plain ignorance! Take Australians for instance, I used to believe that, since they were the descendants of vagabonds and outlaws, they would surely be the wildest, most stubborn and rude people on earth! Now, this was based purely on my ignorance! It's only later when I found myself in situations wherein nobody else would care about me other than the Australians (when I got lost during my travels or had no idea how to get around by myself), that I got to know Australians and know that they are truly the most humble, non-judgmental people on earth. In fact, it is embedded into their culture not to brag about anything! If you brag about anything in your life, you are looked down upon as a braggart. They are so humble, and so completely non-judgmental, and then you will learn that's because they also have the most life experience! Australians are very well-travelled people, they are extremely open-minded to other cultures and beliefs, there is not a single cocky bone in their bodies! They are relaxed in every situation and comfortable with anything. Another example is my once-upon-a-time ignorance of atheists! Being raised in a Christian family, I once believed that atheists were people with no hearts, people who were most likely to hurt other people, who were always angry and were probably psychopaths! Again, that was all my own ignorance that formed from being raised in a close-minded Christian environment. That mindset persisted until I finally was fortunate enough to stay with an atheist family, I didn't know they were atheists until I was in their home sleeping in one of their beds, and eating their home cooked meals! I can honestly say, that, the Atheist family I stayed with, were the people in my life who have treated me the kindest. And in all sincerity, as well! It was not a staged kindness that they didn't actually want to perform; it was a kindness and a care that came from their hearts! Now, that's not something I can say about any Christians I have known in my life, not even my own family! The atheist family gave me more comfort and acceptance in 1 week, than I have witnessed from my own Christian family in all my life! Now, I'm just being honest here, if you're reading this and going to hate me for this, well, I can't make up stories, and I can only speak for myself, I cannot speak for everyone else! This is my experience in my life! Generally, Christians do not accept you for a variety of reasons; and that includes envy. Atheists don't have time to envy; they feel that we make our own lots in life, not God, therefore if you have more, then that's your own doing and good for you! They also believe in the need to be moral in and of themselves, hence, there are many atheists who are fine, admirable people, because of the fact that they take it upon themselves to be moral and good; they don't cast those things upon the shoulders of God. Now, I am not saying that we should all become Atheists, and I am certainly not an Atheist, but what I am discussing here, is the prevalence of judgmentalism and how the root of it is most definitely ignorance!
Whenever I begin to pass judgments on someone simply because of the country of their origin, their accent, or their spiritual beliefs, I immediately take it upon myself to correct myself and say "You're being ignorant again!" I encourage everyone else to do the same.
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