I never understood the logic of coercing beliefs. Like the whole “convert or die” thing in Islam. Surely no matter what you say or do, you may still not believe in it in your heart?
Then I heard a talk by Alan Watts on the general differences between Eastern and Western religions where he points out that Eastern religions are in some ways more similar to psychology than Western ones in that Eastern religions and psychology are concerned about how you feel and think while Western ones are more concerned about how you act, and it clicked: they don’t care about what you believe.
Religious leaders care about conformity and keeping you in line, and the believers care about you not questioning their beliefs so that they themselves aren’t forced to question them as well.
I never understood the logic of coercing beliefs. Like the whole “convert or die” thing in Islam. Surely no matter what you say or do, you may still not believe in it in your heart?
Then I heard a talk by Alan Watts on the general differences between Eastern and Western religions where he points out that Eastern religions are in some ways more similar to psychology than Western ones in that Eastern religions and psychology are concerned about how you feel and think while Western ones are more concerned about how you act, and it clicked: they don’t care about what you believe.
Religious leaders care about conformity and keeping you in line, and the believers care about you not questioning their beliefs so that they themselves aren’t forced to question them as well.