Do Not Believe

[Tesla]

Do Not Believe

Do not believe because you read it in a book,
Do not believe because you saw it on television,
Do not believe because science says so,
Do not believe because a famous person says so,
Do not believe because a wise person says so,
Do not believe because a wise person believes it,
Do not believe because your best friend believes it,
Do not believe because everyone else believes it,
Do not believe because others have believed it for a thousand years,
Do not believe because you've heard it many times before,
Do not believe because you are told you must,
Do not believe because others expect you to,
Do not believe because it gets you accepted
Do not believe because it will make your parents happy,
Do not believe because it will get you noticed,
Do not believe because you want to believe,
Do not believe because you can't afford not to,
Do not believe because it helps you cope,
Do not believe because you'd go mad if you didn't,
Do not believe because you must believe something
Do not believe because there's nothing else to believe,
Do not believe because it feels good to believe,
Do not believe because it makes sense,
Do not believe because your eyes tell you it is so,
Do not believe because it is your own experience,
Do not believe because it feels true,
Do not believe because you know it is true,
Do not believe any of this, Believe only that you are,
And do not even believe that,
For that is beyond belief.
~Peter Russell

Shoot, I should rename this one the Skeptics Study Guide to Being Close-minded. Ha. But seriously, these are good rules in smaller doses. One by one (or even a couple at a time), it's good advice but not altogether.

Tesla

[mkirkpatrick]

Thanks Tesla,I will try not to do that very thing!we have to find out from within our higher self,try and believe that?

regards michael.

[Louis13]

I agree with you 100%, you have caused me to recollect on things that sometime slip from me. This is something that needs to be on my mind everyday. "When you hear about the Self, meditate upon the Self, and finally realize the Self, you come to understand everything in life."

--Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 4.5

[ema]

Nice too much tesla..
i agree with u, but when we should belive then??

[Tesla]

i agree with u, but when we should belive then?

Believe when you have faith; if you have no faith then believe when you truly understand.

-Tesla

[Guille]

Believe when you have faith; if you have no faith then believe when you truly understand.

-Tesla

There are many things I understand which I don't believe and which are false. For example, a fictional character from any book.

[Tesla]

There are many things I understand which I don't believe and which are false. For example, a fictional character from any book.

Good point Guille. I should've been more specific. I was speaking in terms of religion vs. science. If you have no faith in a belief (for an answer of why/how the universe is here), then believe in what you truly understand. The ultimate understanding, in my opinion, is nothing more then acceptance.

Thanks,

Tesla

[Tesla]

Do not believe any of this, Believe only that you are,
And do not even believe that,
For that is beyond belief.
~Peter Russell

I can't believe I didn't catch the end! It goes so deep. Do you know what lies beyond believe? Acceptance. But don't believe me. I think he says many things with this ending. One being, live and let live, because life is so short.

Tesla

[harmonygirl]

Thanks Tesla, this post illustrates that uncritical belief in any system (religion, science, philosophy) is unwise. Very good point for those who decry 'belief' or 'faith' in other systems yet see that their own system is predicated on what are ultimately faith-based rules.

[Mr. Nobody]

The key is to process information in an unbiased manner and apply it to formulate an opinion. Through variable sources of information and the ability to incorporate and update or totally dismiss previous constructs is how we learn.
And that is painful and difficult and why religious dogma remains the opiate of the masses.