Emerging Powers and the Influence on Belief Systems
My personal crusade is an internal struggle between faith and knowledge, wisdom and popular beliefs, reality and our subjective interpretation of it. As I’ve gained new insights through study and experience, my beliefs have evolved, leading me to a conclusion: we are not meant to know the truth of God. It is not our place to possess this knowledge. As humans, we remain in a state of ignorance, yet we conceal it with stories—each religion offering its own narrative, each claiming to be the truth. But the reality is, either one religion is closest to the truth, or all of them are wrong, failing to grasp the mysteries of the universe.
I propose that the most powerful or influential nation in a region often controls the popular beliefs. This concept is not as far-fetched as it may seem. Growing up in the United States, for example, we are taught to view communism with disdain. As children, we learn about communism through stories like *Animal Farm* and *1984* by George Orwell. We're taught about the Holocaust and Nazi Germany, and the media often highlights the negative aspects of North Korea. While these events are undeniably tragic, they are not necessarily representative of the true nature of communism itself. In fact, most people don’t fully understand what communism is. We’ve been conditioned to associate it with negativity, but at its core, communism is about equality.
Now, I’m not advocating for communism; in fact, I’m against any extreme ideology. Extreme capitalism is just as harmful as extreme communism or anarchism. My point is simply that a powerful nation has a significant influence over how ideologies and political systems are perceived. This influence shapes public opinion, creating biases and misconceptions.
The Role of Extremists in Philosophy and Belief
Extremists—whether they are overly conservative, liberal, religious, or atheistic—are the most challenging people to engage in philosophical discussions. Their rigid beliefs limit their ability to explore deeper understandings of the world and the people around them. By wearing ideological blinders, they close themselves off to new perspectives and, more importantly, to a fuller understanding of themselves.
Questioning your beliefs is not a weakness, nor is it a “sin.” In fact, such self-examination can lead to profound growth, enabling you to empathize with others in a more meaningful way. In our search for truth, we must remain open to changing our perspectives.
Emerging Powers and the Creation of Narratives
If we accept that powerful nations shape the beliefs of their people, we can theorize that emerging powers may also construct false narratives to control public perception. Take religion, for example. It’s possible that, in antiquity, an emerging power saw the influence of figures like Jesus Christ and constructed stories to further a specific agenda. A person who dies for their beliefs often becomes a martyr, and the power of martyrdom can be harnessed to amplify their message.
Consider the possibility that Jesus Christ may have been just a man—someone who didn’t have the large following attributed to him, didn’t have twelve disciples, and lived a more ordinary life than we are told. This is, of course, only a theory, and I’m not claiming it as fact. It’s merely a speculative thought to consider. The stories we’ve been told about historical figures could be far from the truth, but does that necessarily make them harmful?
Deism and the Nature of God
In considering the nature of God, I have come to question the conventional views we hold about the divine. Perhaps God is not the loving, caring being we are taught to believe. Nor is He purely evil. God might be both loving and indifferent, both the savior and the source of suffering. The concepts of good and evil are human constructs, and I theorize that God transcends these dualities.
We created God in our image to foster a connection with Him, imagining that He would understand us because we are similar to Him. This idea brings comfort—it makes us feel special, as though we are chosen. But what if God has left the universe to operate on its own, much like a self-sustaining terrarium? What if, after creating the universe, He set it in motion and no longer intervenes? This notion would challenge traditional religious beliefs, particularly in Christianity and Islam, which emphasize God's ongoing plan and involvement in human lives.
The contradiction here lies in the concept of free will. If God is all-powerful and has a predetermined plan for us, then our free will is an illusion. Every decision we make, every action we take, may be part of a larger design. This raises profound questions about the nature of choice. If our actions are preordained, then what control do we really have over our lives?
This doesn’t mean we’re merely puppets—rather, the idea that free will and fate cannot coexist is something I believe is worth pondering. Ultimately, we can’t know for certain if we possess true free will or if everything is merely a sequence of events, predetermined by chance.
Mental Flexibility: Questioning Beliefs
The purpose of these reflections is not to persuade anyone to adopt a new belief. In fact, as I said earlier, all religions may be wrong—but they could also all be right. Who are we to claim that one belief system holds the definitive truth? Let the churches and the extremists argue their sides, but if we are not blinded by rigid dogma, we can engage in a deeper understanding of our own beliefs.
Take the time to think about why you believe what you do. Is it because of personal experience, or is it the result of external influences? You may come to realize that what you consider your beliefs aren’t really yours at all. Perhaps they’ve been shaped more by the people around you—by your family, culture, or the society you live in—than you realize.
Ultimately, we must be willing to question, to think critically, and to be flexible in our beliefs. It’s through this process that we grow, not just as individuals, but as a society.
November 22, 2024