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evangelicalhumanist · #10 (**permalink**) 11th June 2008, 06:42 PM

There is no question that we must believe a great many things rather continuously in order to even make life possible. I need to believe that most people will obey traffic laws and signals (although I do check!). I work because I believe the company will stay in business and I'll get a paycheck. I need to believe that the government and various others who hold my money, pension, investments, and so on, will cough up when the time comes.

I certainly need to believe that my partner cares about me, tells me the truth for the most part, and so on.

That list could go on ad-infinitum.

But it is also true throughout our lives that decisions will have to be made and action taken on the basis of belief, and in some cases, those decisions and actions can have consequences. The more important the consequences, the more important it is for me to examine the beliefs that my decisions will be based on.

For example, I have some money to invest, and it is important to me that the investment grows, because I'm going to need it (desperately) to retire. Therefore, whatever I believe about a given investment opportunity, I must also bring my critical thinking skills to the table. That would include, for example, discerning between feelings of loyalty for my own company and reasonable prospects for its success in the future. Loyalty may colour my beliefs, and lead me to make an investment that might not pay off. On the other hand, my investment might be just what it takes to make the growth and success happen. My beliefs should have much less to do with my decision-making than my considered research and analysis.

There will always be things that we take on "faith," or perhaps in my case accept as axioms. For some, this would be the existence of God, while for others it might be the inherent dignity and worth of every human person. I cannot prove that every human person -- all other things (like criminal behaviour) being equal -- has an equal measure of dignity and worth owing to them, but I accept it anyway. The believer cannot prove that God exists, but accepts it anyway.

But we will make decisions based upon our beliefs, and the more important those decisions, and the more far-reaching the impact of those decisions, the more necessary it is that we examine our beliefs.

If my humanism informs me that a woman (not just her life, but her emotional and mental well-being) is more important than a 10-week embryo, then I am liable to make decisions about abortion that are profoundly different from one who believes that a human "soul" is already present and that the embryo is of equal value with the mother. And my reasoning may lead me to conclude (even though I'm prepared to countenance abortion) that capital punishment is deeply wrong. I need to think very carefully about these things. My emotions play a large part, and my beliefs do too. But I think it is important that I bring as much reason and critical thinking to bear.

Around the world, for example, many people, religious and non-religious, are trying to come to grips with the issue of homosexuality and same-sex marriage. Where countries have decided to accept same-sex relationships (under one name or another), it is usually based on reason, and generally based on considerable thinking about the lives of the people directly concerned. Where countries still punish homosexuality, it is almost always because "God wouldn't like it."

That's a belief. Acting on it has a profound impact. Are they sure they are right, and by what critical thinking have they come to that conclusion?