Everyone, at some point in life, wants to articulate their beliefs. Some do it in writing, and others demonstrate it by their behavior. Some give speeches about it. Some say nothing but think about it a lot. For better or worse, I’ve decided to set out my principle beliefs in this post. It’s risky to reveal yourself by stating what you believe, because you open yourself up to criticism and even ridicule from those you want most to impress. I’ve decided to take the chance. I can safely predict that you will not agree with them all, and some will seem non-sensical. Some will reveal my prejudices. That’s ok. These statements of my belief are the product of my own environmental, experiential and educational exposure. You will see that they borrow heavily on the wisdom of others and of the ages. Most of the words belong to me, the ideas do not. I’ve put them down in the order they occurred to me.
…Man does not need the fear of punishment or the hope of eternal reward to live a moral life.
…Rationalism is man’s most valuable asset.
…Man has evolved over the millennia guided only by the desire to survive.
…Human life should be cherished and terminated only when the alternative cannot be tolerated.
…Violence should be engaged in only as a last resort and then only to the extent necessary to address the issue.
…Human life begins at the point of viability.
…Men and women deserve equal rights.
…Personal accountability leads to the best outcomes.
…Children and the helpless deserve our support and protection.
…My beliefs and behavior should not diminish the rights or well being of others.
…We should be guided more by what is known than by faith alone.
…We cannot truly love others unless we love ourselves.
…Truisms are relative.
…Real flowers are more beautiful than the best of their painted counterparts.
…We are all born in innocence.
…What we do is more important than what we say, but it’s far better if what we say and what we do are in harmony.
…Good guys win in the end.
…Truth is not always the best answer.
…Lying will get you in trouble.
…Grandchildren are the reward for not having killed your own kids.
…Consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds.
…Your children will lie to you if you ask them too many question.
…Death follows life.
…There is no such thing as a holy war.
…We get the government we deserve.
…Success is young ambition’s ladder (with apologies to W. Shakespeare)
…Fear of failure is the enemy of success.
…Winning is better than losing, but not always.
…Three martinis is at least one too many.
…Real friends are rare and should be nurtured and cherished.
…The end does not always justify the means.
…Some people are evil, but there’s always a reason.
…Most people want to be good.
…People will disappoint you, but you shouldn’t behave as if you expect it.
…Hypocrites are a pox on society
…Political ambition causes people to behave in ways inconsistent with their true nature.
…Dogmatic believe in the supernatural leads to irreconcilable conflict.
…Blind faith is exactly that.
…The rule of law is a necessary precedent to sustainable liberty.
…Tribalism precludes democracy.
…Don’t trust generals to find the path to peace.
…Beware of those who evoke patriotism to explain their own bad behavior.
…Ideologues are a necessary evil.
…Perfect is the enemy of good.
…It’s hard to think about the endless possibilities of life when you’re hungry.
…Politicians will do whatever is necessary to maintain power.
…Power corrupts.
…There may not be explanations for the mysteries of life, but we should keep looking.
…Far too many people have been killed in the name of god(s).
…Nothing is sweeter than a baby’s breath on your cheek.
…There’s a reason for everything, but we may never figure it out.
…Sex makes fools of us all.
…The love of a parent for his child transcends all rational thought.
…To question is the answer.
…I would rather believe in what is known than to have faith in that which cannot be known.
…All men have the capacity to do evil, but most of us resist.
…It’s hypocrisy to say we cherish life and then support capital punishment.
…A gun in the hands of everyone is far worse than no one having a gun.
…Everyone should just pick one thing and try to do it as best one can at sometime in their life.
…Most of the horror in life, and some of the good, has been promulgated by ideological zealots.
…Giving is more difficult and more important than getting.
…Most humans have a deeply ingrained herd instinct.
…Generalizations are only generally true and sometimes dead wrong.
…In a free society, the truth will ultimately be revealed, but it may be ignored.
…No one has ever adequately explained why some men are leaders, but most are not.
…Governments will lie to their citizens when they determine it’s in their interest to do so.
…Supernatural phenomena can’t be ruled out, but I choose to wait for the evidence.
…A harmonious long term relationship between a man and a woman is difficult, but is worth it the effort.
…I will never fully comprehend how a radio works, but I know that it does and that there is a rational explanation for it.
…One can never truly appreciate good health until it’s gone.
As I look back over these, I can see a number that have changed, some dramatically, over the course of my life. So, in a way, these are only my beliefs at this moment in time, and may even change tomorrow. We are changed and shaped by each days experiences.
