Although this was not intentionally planned seemingly, as a youth and subsequently, I began to take an interest in psychology, and as to how the mind and senses could be fooled - and relatively easily it seems. This was around the time (1970) when Richard Gregory was publishing works concerning perception and visual illusions, and hence such and similar reading did inform as to some possible visual and auditory illusions that we might experience. No doubt things have moved on from then, but this perhaps ensured I mostly didn't mistake any of my experiences for something that they weren't, or enabled me to believe things that were probably not true. Such that a knowledge of how we might be deluded and deceived in so many ways might have prevented me from forming any sort of religious belief, when the doctrinal approach of reading and learning any particular religion seems to rely on nothing of the sort - just have faith - that all the written and spoken words are truth.
This former I would maintain is the safer approach to beliefs - at least knowing firstly how our minds work and how they might be deceived in so many ways - before one embarks on pursuit of some 'ultimate truth'. I looked but no pursuit took place, given I did seem to realise how much I could never know.
Perhaps this approach is hardly feasible for all, but I would suggest that for those who would claim to be honest in all things then this approach as to having beliefs is a more serious one - in knowing the pitfalls first before setting out on a journey that could be more like caving than much else, that is, descending a rabbit hole.
And this isn't about me but simply about the dangers of not recognising the frailty of our human nature, which so many just do not seem to understand.
Any comments?
This former I would maintain is the safer approach to beliefs - at least knowing firstly how our minds work and how they might be deceived in so many ways - before one embarks on pursuit of some 'ultimate truth'. I looked but no pursuit took place, given I did seem to realise how much I could never know.
Perhaps this approach is hardly feasible for all, but I would suggest that for those who would claim to be honest in all things then this approach as to having beliefs is a more serious one - in knowing the pitfalls first before setting out on a journey that could be more like caving than much else, that is, descending a rabbit hole.
And this isn't about me but simply about the dangers of not recognising the frailty of our human nature, which so many just do not seem to understand.
Any comments?