Before You Believe - Test Yourself
Please consider the following quote and place your thoughts about it within your reply:
Believe nothing just because a so-called wise person said it. Believe nothing just because a belief is generally held. Believe nothing just because it is said in ancient books. Believe nothing just because it is said to be of divine origin. Believe nothing just because someone else believes it. Believe only what you yourself test and judge to be true.
-- Buddha - Hindu Prince Gautama Siddharta
This a quote to live by not in just religion, but all things. Just imagine if you were in Christopher Columbus' day and believed as everyone that the sun went around the earth, you would remain ignorant and die in your ignornace just because you believe as everyone else does.
I agree with you JB its something to live by. Everyone is ready to believe what's printed from a web page or on television without even thinking if there is a truth or lie behind it. No one thinks for themselves anymore.
One of the keywords in that quote is "said". The power of words is so suggestive that it can lead armies off to war. I think most of the people on the planet are thought to not reason but accept like drones. You hear something and because it is in a book or thought by a teacher it must be accepted immediately. Governments love this method of control. Anytime people start to deliberate and ask questions then there is trouble because dark places are brought into the light.