It is not easy to accept uncertainties about the future that cannot be grasped by the scientific method. The human mind needs certainty and is inclined to fill the gaps with stories using imagination. Religions are our greatest helper in this regard.
I have been intrigued by the contradictions of religions. The number of believers worldwide is still higher than those who do not believe in organized religion. Believers in different geographies embrace the same unshakable belief in religious plots that are opposed to each other. They think that their faith is the most authentic, the most sacred, the most perfect.
Religion is mostly emerging as a social imposition rather than an individual choice. According to geography, people naturally own the identities and beliefs. Society and the family are guiding them so much that the vast majority refrain from questioning their beliefs. In economically developed societies, the religious choice can be left on the initiative of individuals, and opinions are differentiated.
Humans are the only living species that can realize that they are mortal. This realization is very worrying in the individual plan. For this reason, the beliefs that envisage the immortality of the soul have been prevalent throughout history. In a sci-fi story, I tried to explain how wars would occur when there was a cure for aging and death in natural ways. Immortals are disadvantaged in battle because they quickly abandoned religious beliefs. In the story, the head of Religious Affairs was asked to generate a religion that appealed to the immortals.
Religion has a close relationship with power. Those who control the faith have a privileged place in the community. The Polytheistic and animist religions were prevalent, while people had their livelihoods in the hunter-gatherers. With the transition to farming society, the Empires began to be established, and the monotheistic heavenly religions came forward. The spread of industrial society necessitated Protestant morality, which gave importance to hard work, accumulation, and reinvestment. In the 21st century, although religious beliefs have been quite diversified, New Age beliefs, personal development recommendations have come to the fore to motivate information age workers.
I think that religions and personal development advice contain bits of information that we can use. Of course, I do not take the personal development directions seriously, which are pure "Secret" style. Personal development gurus who encourage individuals to work hard, think positively, and communicate openly with others have occasionally attracted my attention. Some professionals are competent and do well in this regard, as well as those who trade hope.
Several years ago, I met a philosophy called Toltec wisdom and four "Agreements" of this philosophy on Instagram. The person who shared the recommendations on Instagram was a guy I respected, so I was intrigued. It was straightforward advice, and I thought that they were compatible with my life experience.
Toltec is a civilization that lived in Mexico between the 10th and the 12th centuries. Their capital is Tula. It is doubtful whether the philosophy, which is known as Toltec wisdom, really originated from Toltec. This philosophy was spread by the Mexican writer Don Miguel Ruiz, born in 1952, in his book "4 agreements," written in 1997. The author also used modern psychological findings when writing his book. The book sold 7.2 million copies in the United States and was translated into 40 languages. Here is a list of these "agreements," which have straightforward content.
Select The Words You Use Carefully
Speak with integrity
Say only what you mean
Speak with the power of truth and love
Do Not Take It Personally
Nothing others do is because of you
What others say and do is a projection of their own reality.
Do Not Make Assumptions
Ask questions and express what you really want
Communicate with others clearly
Always Do The Your Best
Do your best and avoid self-judgment and regret
I think it is necessary to take advantage of all kinds of information provided, passing through a critical reasoning filter.
Thanks for reading.
