Flexible Beliefs

I spend a fair amount of time in the car driving and I listen to podcasts as I drive. Studying evolutionary science is a hobby of mine. I have recently been listening to a podcast titled Evolution 101. Although the lecturer, Dr. Zack, sometimes goes over my head, I enjoy learning about science and how organisms change.

Have you ever seen the fish symbol on the back of a car? What about the fish with feet symbol on a car? The fish symbolizes Christian beliefs. The fish with feet symbolizes belief in evolution in the conventional sense. Conventional – meaning that humans have evolved from micro-organisms in the water, to fish, to land animals, and eventually to what we are today through a process that took millions of years. Both of these symbols indicate a belief.

No matter what your belief is, you believe strongly enough to post a symbol to the back of your car so everyone can see what you believe. I am not talking specifically about evolution as much as having beliefs. I am fascinated to listen to someone speak when they feel so strongly about something they believe in. They seem educated, concerned, and passionate. When you oppose them, they typically become defensive and have some preplanned rebuttal. It is as if they were expecting you to question what they believe. At first, I am attracted by the passion, but ultimately, the inflexible mind bores me. They are unable to listen to your point of view because it goes against what they believe and threatens what they think. 

When I look back at my youth, I realize I had some strong beliefs. As I have aged and matured, I have educated myself and realized day in and day out that I just don’t know. Not knowing is what keeps me open and fresh in the moment. Evolution, something that I read and study seems to make perfect sense, but I realize that there is so much more that I don’t know. To establish this firm and rigid belief around evolution in the conventional sense would be unintelligent. So when I study a subject like evolution, I am very careful not to become rigid around one way of thinking.

Ok, I can hear you now—“Great! You’re someone who doesn’t believe anything and is wish-washy?” Everyday I try to approach my life with an open way of thinking. An approach that is continually predicated by educating myself while remaining completely open to having my beliefs pulled out from underneath me. This way I allow my beliefs to be flexible—evolving as I evolve.