Filed under: Thoughts
An wise saying by Fredrick Nietzsche, “Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth than lies”.
There are times, when I tire of people who hold convictions that “because they are xxxx (something they strongly believe in), they cannot be wrong and everybody else is wrong. ” I’ve been brought up to be a Catholic, the usual yada yada about the holy spirit being on us, will guide us to be do good and right things. Seriously over the years, I’ve begun to truly doubt that it does nothing but confuse the believers. Can you truly always act in the semblance of truth? Is true such that its always black and white?
Recently, I went to Sunday mass with my mom. We had a priest that was all brimstone and fire. I had a great amusing time listen to him commenting on this and that. He was commenting on why do the people who belong to various church organisation have petty jealousy, anger, dislike and many other negative emotions. Why do the people, who after mass, still go out and do such bad stuff if they say they believe in God.
The last time a priest tried that in my church, he had lots of people complain to the parish priest (head priest of the parish for those not knowing). I thought whoa betide this poor priest. I went home and later overheard my mom and her best friend commenting on the priest, in such that they agreed with some of the criticisms but thought that others were simply untrue. The fact is, all of it was true to varying degrees but they could not see it.
I believe that the people (I think its rather old people heavy, although we’re getting more young converts) totally believe that they have been good for a long time. How dare some upstart priest make comments on their exemplary behavior?!?! Privately I had a good laugh at their ignorance.
I’ve always said and learned the hard way, good intentions does not beget good works or good results. Most of the time, its actually more harming then good if thats the attitude of the people. I love the line sprouted by many people, “I have good intentions and the Holy Spirit guides my actions, I can’t do anything wrong!” Hahhaahahha always love it when they sprout just strong convictions of the righteousness. Don’t they realise that its precisely that sort of thinking that can sink ships and start wars?
The sad thing, its not only religious belief, sometimes, social or ideological beliefs that create such fervor. As Karl Marx once said, that the rich oppress the working class through, law, ideology and religion. I think thats true in so many levels. The strangest thing that I don’t see a religion teaching is the how do you do “this”? They always very clearly say, if you don’t do “This” you will be punished by God. This maybe some commandments which I call the “don’t do” instructions or the “love thy neighbour as yourself” the “do” instructions. The problem is that they never tell you how. How do you love thy neighbour, how do you forgive a person for hurting you, how do you begin to have universal love. I strongly suspect, they don’t know either!
Or worst still, they do know but won’t say because to do so, would make people realise that they can go to God direct and bypass all the religious organisations. What annoys me the most is that they almost universally say “Pray to God about it. Ask God to show you how.” Like we have eternity to wait for that. If God did answer someone, why don’t they tell the rest of the poor sobs like us?
Even worst, I think many people use these as blackmail tools to get what they want. For example, people would try to get others to do something, either by hinting or looking pointedly and disapprovingly at you (what they have no mouths to ask?) trying to get you to move or squeeze in the pews so that they can sit down. Or any situation that tries to make you feel guilty for not doing something that is suppose to be moral or ethical or religious. Yup I call it blackmail and I will never retract that.
Unfortunately, it happens with most people in general. Everyone is taught by the parents, you must get ahead in this competitive world. I think its kind of oxymoronic, don’t share your knowledge with others in case they do better then you. On the other hand, you must share your food, do charity for the poor. So what if the poor is the one may do better at studies. What is a kid suppose to understand out of this?
