Belief, for me, is a non-rational phenomenon. My rational side scoffs, but generally my non-rational and rational sides get along. They agree to disagree and never try to convert the other.
My not-so-rational beliefs often fall into the category of “wishful believing.” How could I not wish for a deity that is love personified? How could I not wish to be reunited with an all-encompassing force field of love?
In an era of unbelief, here is a non-exhaustive list of some non-rational beliefs I have identified lurking in my psyche:
When I observe brilliant, slanting, early-evening sunlight on the trees before me as I sit in Austin Gardens, I believe that the god of vision is teaching me how to “see” at a magnified level.
I believe that we were born to do one particular thing of utmost importance during our lives. We don’t know what it is and don’t recognize it when we do it, but it causes a ripple in the space-time continuum that leads to a great consequence for good, sometimes several generations ahead. And shortly after we do it, we die because our purpose here has been served. But we depart with a sense of deep satisfaction, knowing we accomplished what we set out to do.
If there is an afterlife, I believe we transition from living unconsciously to fully conscious living — but only for a limited time, long enough to review our lives thoroughly and appreciate the immensity of its beauty, forgiving ourselves for our sins and shortcomings before we let go, surrendering our individuality and merging into a vast universal consciousness, which we embrace with ecstatic acceptance, transforming ourselves into love itself.
I believe every life advances the evolution of humanity even though it is impossible to say how. I believe humanity has evolved to the point where we are capable of destroying ourselves but will eventually evolve to where we are no longer capable of destroying the planet or its inhabitants.
I believe Artificial Intelligence will force us to accelerate the pace of our evolution, and after a dark time when AI undermines our humanity, we will emerge from its shadow and take a giant leap for humankind.
I believe there is truth in our beliefs, but the truth is beyond our present reckoning and truth is always a step ahead of us. I believe our beliefs say more about who we are than about what we believe.
I believe in the collective unconscious at the deepest level of our psyche, where we are all inseparably connected.
I believe I am not alone. I believe I am not merely I but also We.
I believe that coincidence is frequently more than a coincidence. I believe it is not a coincidence that evil is the word “live” in reverse because evil is living backward.
I believe in the fire within, I believe in the words that come from who knows where when the channel between heart and head opens, and I believe in the power of deep breaths.
I believe we live in the Garden of Eden and never left it.
I believe we will be saved by what we don’t yet know.
I believe that beliefs are an act of the imagination and shouldn’t be dismissed just because they may not literally be true.
I believe not all of what I believe is true and therefore my beliefs continue to evolve.
I believe in the human kindness of humankind, and I believe that humankindness will prevail.
I believe it is possible to be wise, courageous and kind, even in times of foolishness, cowardice and cruelty.
I believe in the stillness that follows the storm.
I believe in the abundance of blessings even in cursed times.
I believe in grace even though I don’t know what it is or where it comes from.
I believe that what is true is sustainable and what is not sustainable is false.
I believe we are in a race to save the Earth from our selfishness, and that our survival instinct will triumph in an epic battle between the two sides of our nature.
I believe our better angels are stronger than our worst devils, but only if we nurture our better nature.
I believe that our mission is to do whatever we can to preserve the planet, and in doing so, we will someday harness the energies of love, as Chardin said.
And, for the second time in history, discover fire.