Mark Fletcher blog 8

To touch on the subject of belief, whether it be in science or in a divine being, in an action that is not taken very often.  This is because in the world that we live in today I seems that the media is always looking for something that someone said that was offensive.  It is hard sometimes to talk about belief because people fear that they will offend someone who may not believe in the same standards or morals.  For example I recall a story about a Jehovah’s Witness who would not stand during the national Anthem at a football game.  He claimed that his beliefs were against such practice, but one former marine thought differently.  The solder believed the action to be a sign of respect, honor, and appreciation for the sacrifices that he and other solders have made.  However, to the Jehovah’s Witness it was a sign of evil.  We can engage in belief, but we must understand who the audience is and be sensitive to what others may think.

We should defiantly avoid boasting about beliefs in the sense that say ours are better then others.  We should avoid comments that would make others feel inferior or less important.  For example, one could say that to reach heaven one must obey the commandments.  However, if you add in after this “And if you don’t your going to hell” then some people will take offense since there probably are some that don’t fit that category.  We should encourage the engagement in belief, but in a respectable manner that addresses the subject, but leaves people feeling better about themselves or helps to feel the desire to be better; but not inferior.  Once we can find a way to help engage ourselves with belief in a manner that brings good tidings and not judgmental fear, then we will know how we can make the world a better place; by sharing our ideas with others without offense.