edenfalling | Mar. 8th, 2005

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Mar. 8th, 2005

Random discussion starter from a UU small group ministry meeting:

Due to an unfortunate partial collapse of the integrity of the universe, belief is needed to keep things from falling apart completely. Everyone must firmly believe that the universe exists. All other belief is strictly rationed.

Each person may keep three beliefs. It's best to pick the things you believe so deeply you don't question them, the ideas and assumptions on which you base your life.

What are your three beliefs? Why did you pick them?

It took me a good long while to come up with any, but I did eventually find some.

1) I believe in change. I believe that the universe is not static, that nothing lasts forever, and that there is always the possibility of something I haven't imagined. This is both a good thing and a bad thing. Sometimes it scares me, but overall I find it comforting.

2) I believe in Otherness -- that is, I believe that the world is not defined by me and my views, and that all views are valid at least to those who hold them. I believe in infinite variety and infinite possibility.

3) As a corollary to my first two beliefs, I believe that we make our own meaning in life. Maybe there's a ultimate meaning. Maybe there isn't. But we move through a sea of possibility and change. The world is not static and won't sit still while we try to pin it down. So we pick something we consider important, and because we say it's important, it becomes important to us.

Those are the beliefs I'd hang on to. I don't always like them. I sometimes spend a lot of time trying to contradict them. But they're the assumptions underneath an awful lot of my thoughts and actions.

So. What are your beliefs? Why would you keep them?

Current Mood: curious

Random discussion starter from a UU small group ministry meeting:

Due to an unfortunate partial collapse of the integrity of the universe, belief is needed to keep things from falling apart completely. Everyone must firmly believe that the universe exists. All other belief is strictly rationed.

Each person may keep three beliefs. It's best to pick the things you believe so deeply you don't question them, the ideas and assumptions on which you base your life.

What are your three beliefs? Why did you pick them?

It took me a good long while to come up with any, but I did eventually find some.

1) I believe in change. I believe that the universe is not static, that nothing lasts forever, and that there is always the possibility of something I haven't imagined. This is both a good thing and a bad thing. Sometimes it scares me, but overall I find it comforting.

2) I believe in Otherness -- that is, I believe that the world is not defined by me and my views, and that all views are valid at least to those who hold them. I believe in infinite variety and infinite possibility.

3) As a corollary to my first two beliefs, I believe that we make our own meaning in life. Maybe there's a ultimate meaning. Maybe there isn't. But we move through a sea of possibility and change. The world is not static and won't sit still while we try to pin it down. So we pick something we consider important, and because we say it's important, it becomes important to us.

Those are the beliefs I'd hang on to. I don't always like them. I sometimes spend a lot of time trying to contradict them. But they're the assumptions underneath an awful lot of my thoughts and actions.

So. What are your beliefs? Why would you keep them?

Current Mood: curious

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Elizabeth Culmer

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