This is Blog 4 in my A-Z Blogseries:
Doubt
I recently noticed my first “Doubter Alert” blog was getting quite a few views (which I still can’t really explain). To be honest, when I saw the title appear in my stats I couldn’t even really remember what it was about. So I re-read my own post and was inspired to write a follow-up on it.
The original blog sprouted from a WP Prompt, in which you were encouraged to write about a “commonly accepted truth” that you disagree with or at least seriously doubt.
The list I assembled consists not so much of “commonly accepted truths” but more of modern day arguments and opinions that a growing group of people seem to have.
Voting is useless.
I think it was actually my brother that said this to me at some point. He’s a skeptic, in more ways than one, and he has stopped casting his vote. He says that he doesn’t know who to vote for and always feels like he’s been duped in some way or other anyway.
I guess I kind of understand the sentiment.
I disagree vehemently though and it makes me sad to see people so disillusioned by the people in power (and, following George Carlin’s logic, the general public as a whole).
Atheists have no moral compass.
This has never actually been said to me explicitly. It is something I read in comments on Social Media and may have been suggested by a street Evangelist or two.
I like to think I am a good person. I care about what happens around me, from plants to animals and of course fellow human beings. I do what I reasonably can to be a positive presence in the world.
What could believing in angels, spirits and god(s) have done to improve my morals? I really don’t see it…
A Dutch white person criticizing Black Pete does this only out of political correctness and doesn’t truly believe what they say.
This is a complicated one, especially to non-Dutchies. Is that true? I’m not sure. Now that I’m writing it down I’m think it’s actually simpler for outsiders… (Oy, so much doubt!)
Anyway, it took me 5 long blogs to sum the problem up last year, so please feel free to read those (starting with this one) to get a general idea of what I mean with the statement above.
Other statements that people these days are making, that I have my doubts about:
- Genetically modified food is bad for the planet.
- I have freedom of speech so I can say whatever I want in whichever way I want.
- You can’t trust the media (or even worse “journalists are the enemy of the people).
- Vaccines are unnecessary
- Climate change (human caused or not) is an inevitable fact of life that we just need to accept instead of trying to fix or prevent.
Reading my list makes me rethink my first A-to-Z blog, in which I asked myself if I was an activist. It’s clear politics and societal issues play a big part in my musings of late…
All this talk of doubt reminds me of a quote from one of my favorite books:
As much as I love this book (seriously, read it. Better than the movie), I think I actually disagree with that statement. I think asking “why” is always a good thing.
People that believe in absolute truths are not the most pleasant people to be around, if you ask me…
At the same time I do understand that you need to calibrate yourself as well and decide on what rings true to you. Doubting everything can drive you mad (or paranoid).
As always, it’s all in finding balance.
Epiphany 