FOUNDATIONS OF BELIEF

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4933, 1 February 1926, Page 4

FOUNDATIONS OF BELIEF

A gentleman by the name of Socrates was made to drink hemlock because he made a nuisance of himself.

He had a habit of buttonholing the young men of Athens on the street and cleverly examining their stock of ideas. He wanted to know what they believed and why they believed it. Did you ever ask yourself about the foundations upon which your beliefs rest? Is your belief in the Gods, in the Commonwealth, in money and in Government, strong enough to withstand cross-examination ?

Such an old busybody as Socrates could not be allowed to live. It was said of him that he was a heretic because he put an interrogation point upon the proper religion, and he was an anarchist because he refused obedience to ancient traditions. Also he was a disturber of the peace because he made men think. Really the man who gives us a new thought has done us more good than a man who makes us a present of a lot of money. The thought may change our lives and alter our whole point of view, while the money may do nothing to us but harm.

The majority of the people in this world do not want to think. They do not like to be disturbed. The first question with most people is to keep the peace and not to find out the truth.

There is some truth in the saying that all belief is founded upon doubt, for doubt is the challenging of one’s self and the making of ancient beliefs square with our intelligence.