Is it Okay for You to Believe What You Want?

So much information is swirling around these days about the world being "spiritual" but not "religious." I, myself, have hear pastors talk about this in a negative light; people as a whole are not "Christian" enough for them to appreciate. This begs the question, is it okay for you to believe what you want?

My first reaction to this would be, "Of course it is. Who's going to stop you?" Of course it doesn't take a genius to see that this isn't the way things usually happen.

A concept that I've recently run onto in the world of Evangelical churches is one I call "implied permission." What this means is the people doing the evangelism are taking on the responsibility to tell you what to believe, as if you had given them permission to tell you that you are wrong. You may be shocked to find out that this happens not only from door-to-door missionaries to the general public but also between "Christian" groups as well. I have heard tales of an Evangelical Christian girl inviting Mormon missionaries and Jehova Witnesses into her home so she could tell them that "her Jesus was the right Jesus."

Perhaps this shouldn't shock you at all. We live in a world where everything around us is telling us how to think and feel. That's precisely what marketing does. Why do you think you choose Pepsi over Coca-Cola or run to Old Navy when you see their latest sale? Practically the only thing keeping people from rushing to Christianity is its hokeyness; it's so persuasive otherwise. That's not to say that Christianity is right or wrong (we're still waiting for the debate to finish on this one) but that the clever marketing hasn't truly extended to that particular product.

Thankfully we have the Internet and its boundless supplies of information. We can research things like Agnosticism, Universalism, and the meaning of Apologetics so that we can at least be somewhat informed when someone tries to convince us that we're not worshipping the correct "thing." With this powerful tool we can help take our minds back through learning as well as find other people that are like us. Buddhists don't have to fear the forceful converting hand of Christians no more than Christians have to fear it from those who practice Islam.

The secular community will have to watch out, though, as those who profess no religion (particularly those who refer to themselves as "spiritual") are ripe for the picking for the first passerby that can make a good argument. It would help to remember some things if you find yourself in conflict with someone exercising "implied permission." First, know that they are usually doing it out of concern for you. Secondly, your chances of abating their argument without converting are fairly slim. Finally, it's never a crime to disagree, regardless of the strength of the first and second points.

I would fight for a person's right to believe in something even if it were truly wrong; when you take away a person's right to believe in what they choose you cut yourself off from being able to choose what is "right" or "true." In short, if a person has no choice about what to believe in they are better off in believing in nothing. Unfortunately, the argument is going to rage on forever with Christians on one side, Atheists vehemently on the other, and Agnostics caught in between, shrugging all the while.

Sacrifice your right to choose what you believe in and you may as well allow people to tell you what to eat, drink and wear while they are at it. Be strong, believe what you want and above all do your best to remain true to yourself. If you are a Christian, be a good Christian. If you are an Atheist, be a good Atheist. There's no better strength for what you are than your acting representation of it (which is why brow-beating Christians give the rest a bad reputation). No one can truly change your mind but you.