I read somewhere, and quickly passed on by, that those who have a firm belief system have less worries. That struck me as probably the basis of the many Christians - those are people I am familiar with, but I imagine Hindus, Muslims, Jews, and others have a similar system. They know their superior force, their faith in that force, and their living in a certain proscribed way will take care of things. No matter what.
So I imagine they have an easy way of life.
I keep saying they, because my continued interest in differing structures of ideas that explain the universe of all ideas leaves me with questions. I don't wake up and go to sleep with a prayer to a deity to save my soul and the world. and the surety that that someone out there is taking care of things.
I wake up with expectation that this day will bring new ideas to me. That the dog people who just had such fun meeting each other by the lake this noon will give me joy to hear their enjoyment of each other and their pooches...and I can get into the same feeling just by saying "I love how dog people can interact with others so easily!:
See by saying that I acknowledge them, but don't exactly say I'm a dog person, I'll get to pet their pooch if it's so inclined, and sometimes get a photo or two. I'm really a cat person in disguise. Nobody is out walking cats, so it's a bit harder to find other cat persons...usually friends I visit in their homes.
I digress from the spirituality of my message...but there are definitely some connections to belief systems by the kinds of pets people have. Ha ha...maybe just a jest. I'm of course open to considering it however.
So if all those with a set of rules of beliefs and behaviors have an easier life, is mine necessarily harder?
No. It's just more up to me. I have more choices. Today do I feel vegetarian? Or do I want to read all the alternative newsletters that I have in my in-box? Or is it get fit and do exercise day?
I kind of like all the choices I have. But I do admit a bit of envy for those who lie back in the great white father's lap and let him take care of their lives. Nah, not for a moment!
I learned in psychology that the belief in a great external other that takes care of you is considered external-locus-of-control. And if you believe in your own way of approaching problems, that's called internal-locus-of-control.
1 comment:
I don't think their lives are easier. All the hoops they have to jump through and restrictions they endure not to piss off their deity, worry all the time that they might be sinning, denying pleasure and the workings of your body because...sin, all the rituals like the constant prayer and church going when just being outside and experiencing and acknowledging the awesomeness of nature and of being human and protecting it, indulging in the senses of this amazing vehicle you inhabit is all the worship necessary. You don't need some big daddy in the sky to know that certain things are wrong...murder, lying, theft, torture, discrimination, etc.
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