The Most Pernicious of All My Former Beliefs

“People are more important than beliefs” is The Oasis Network motto, and I really like it.

But something I have to constantly remind myself (as someone who leans more secular these days)….is the following,

“People are more important than NON-beliefs.”

In other words, just because I no longer believe in the supernatural, this does not give me the right to treat believers with disrespect…which I have a constant “pull” to do….either directly, or indirectly.

Of all the damaging things I learned through my religion, I think that perhaps the most pernicious of all is the idea that there is only one “true” path.

That idea is so…incredibly….pernicious…and it follows me almost wherever I go these days as a non-religious person.

I was a missionary as a Mormon, and now I find myself constantly judging non-secular people as inferior. If I ever put down my righteous indignation to think about this….it makes. Me. Sick.

For me it was relatively easy to stop believing in Joseph Smith, or exclusive authority. What has been infinitely more difficult to shed is the idea that my way is the only way, or the best way.

My (secular) prayer today is that I can someday truly lose this one belief that I now see as being the most pernicious of all beliefs….and not necessarily unique to religion AT ALL.

And if there is a “one true path” – I will tell you what that path is: that path is love. Call it a cliche, but I KNOW it to be true. Just. Love. People. Unconditionally. And. Treat. Them. With. Respect.

May I constantly work to never forget this.