About a week ago I was talking with a fellow employee and she brought up her disappointment in the newest Wolverine movie
Logan. I didn't have much to say about it as I had not seen it or any other Wolverine movie so I thought the conversation would die. Not so. She asked if I'd seen the movie and I said that I hadn't. She seemed prepared to move on but I couldn't help adding that I didn't watch movies with R ratings. This led to the natural question of "why". I had antisipated the question but even so it only left me a moment to consider my answer. This isn't the first time I have addressed beliefs based off my religion but I knew that I had to handle this particular question differently. If I said that I didn't see this film because my religion taught those movies were inappropriate, I'd be left in a spot when someone who claimed to share my beliefs came in having seen the film or perhaps some other R rated movie. It was in this moment of reflection that I realized I had to adopt the believes as mine rather than state the teachings of my faith. And so I answered her by saying: "I know that there is harm in media that is given an R rating. I know that it can have a negative affect on me and therefore, I avoid those situations. In doing so I know that I am protected." My co-worker accepted my answer and I was left with a feeling of having said the right thing but also having a stronger conviction in my beliefs because I had adopted them as
mine.
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| This picture has nothing to do with anything. I just needed a picture for the post. |
I've grown up knowing what was right and wrong. I haven't always known why a religious teaching was in place but I knew it had never led me astray. This small experience taught me that until I understand that those teachings aren't just lessons to be obeyed blindly and until I take the beliefs as my own they will do me no good when called upon to explain and even defend them.
Fortunately my story took place in a situation where all ended well. With this ever changing world this will not always be the case. So in conclusion, I'll leave you with these questions:
Are the beliefs you live by yours? Are you prepared to stand by your beliefs not simply because they're what you've been taught but because they are what YOU know to be true?
Yours truly,
Cordy
Amen. Well put, my friend. Great food for thought here. :)
ReplyDelete:) Thanks, Miss March.
DeleteThis is something I've thought about a lot. I've more recently started saying things like "I believe" instead of "my church believes" and stuff...Because yes, like you said, it gives a stronger conviction that yes, this is what *I* believe. It's also made me figure out what I do believe, and what I just follow because of my religion. Y'know?
ReplyDeleteSo...I agree. Thank you for your thoughts! I enjoyed reading this; you said things so much better than I could.
Figuring out what I did believe was the coolest part for me. I mean, in thought I've believed what I'd been taught but actually saying that I did brought another level of belief. :)
DeleteThanks, Rae.
I'm glad you stood up for what you believe in!
ReplyDeleteI'm starting to do that too. I can't just blame things on my religion. I have to stand up for them because that is what I believe to be true and right. I make up situations in my head, so I know how to respond when a controversial subject is brought up. I can be caught off guard by not knowing how to put what I think and feel into words, so I like to prepare by making up imaginary situations or conversations. Do you ever do that?
I totally do that. :D I've really focused on my "arguments" lately because it's becoming common to have discussions on beliefs. I know that not every situation is going to go as well and smooth as the one above, so I, like you, try to prepare as best I can. :)
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