Have you taken your meds?

Since when did it become a crime to change your mind.

It seems like every time I run into someone that knew me when I was a religious Fundy and they find out that I have a radically different view point they look at me like I've just forgotten to take my medication.  I don't pretend to think that it is just the right wingers or Fundy's that do this but they sure seem to be the ones that I run into the most that think I've completely lost control. 

Isn't this the natural process of things?  You think something, you take in information, and then based on that information you adjust, discard, and/or create beliefs based on the new information.  Is there something more that we are capable of then the best we can with what we have? 

I remember hearing growing up in church how important it was to know what you believe and why.  What they didn't tell you was the underlying expectation that you were not supposed to deviate from that belief (ignoring the problem of contents of belief).  Even the most minor deviation was looked upon like a gateway drug.  They were the marijuana that, as a rule, always leads to meth addictions and gay prostitution.  Seriously, this house of cards theology has got to go.  Having to hold on to everything you have or rework the whole shebang is way too stressful for a normal human being. 

Never changing your mind would be a wonderful idea if we lived in a static world where nothing happened that didn't always happen.  But unfortunately for some, the reality is that our world is dynamic and always changing and hard fast rules about anything inevitably come into question and the only sane thing to do is to re-evaluate and, God forbid, change our minds. 

Comments

[Zoe]

Just going through some old comments from past posts on my blog (as I try to figure out whether to keep writing or not) & linked to your blog here.

I think this is a great post!

[Laura]

gay prostitution? Anyway, I was there for the fundy days and the heretic days. I think I like the heretic days better if for no other reason than it makes your love life a lot more interesting.

P.S. I wasn't in it.

[Rose]

yeah...i feel you. It's really weird to me the looks people give me when they know where I am now as opposed to where I once was.

[Adam]

Rose,
What a wonderful surprise. I haven't heard from you in such a long time.