Belief and Perception

Whatever your beliefs, they are derived through your experience of life, your thoughts and your perception.

As such, it is likely you will have similar beliefs to others who have had some of the same experiences, or lived in the same environment.

Books and movies can give us a glimpse of different lifestyles and change our mindset.  For example, the book Uncle Tom’s Cabin shone a light on the subject of  slavery in America.  The book is credited with changing America’s attitude toward and tolerance of slavery.  If true, that book also stands at least partly responsible for the bloodiest war in US history.  It was a war where brother fought against brother.  Whatever the outcome, there would be tragedy and sorrow across America.  I’ve learned that many Americans have no idea what the US Civil War was about.  Did you know this? Here’s a surprising stat:  Roughly 1,264,000 American soldiers have died in the nation's wars--620,000  in the Civil War and 644,000 in all other conflicts.

I mention the American Civil War as a consequence of new and changing thought, not to be negative, but rather it is my point that different attitudes cause conflict.

That war ended in 1865, but the division between north and south never ended.  In the 21st Century we revisit that war each time we tear down a monument to the confederacy, and each time we remove a confederate flag.  While President Lincoln waged this war to preserve the union, at any cost, to this day we remain fractured as a nation.  We bitterly disagree on the issues of the past as well as the present.  Our battles are waged in the press, social media and with guns, explosives and politics.

This is not an isolated case.  For thousands of years violence has festered in the Middle East, and a battle that began in biblical times has never really ended. This is the pattern of civilization.  Our battles may be won or lost, but we live and wait to rise again.

This is because we cannot agree on the correct principles for living.  Battle is the primitive way to settle differences.

Battle only temporarily resolves any issue, but the destruction is permanent.

The anger festers and the cycle of attack, war and destruction is endless. It is a circle or cycle of hate and violence.

In The Circle of Infinity, I ask how does one escape a closed circle?

The answer has to do with you, your belief and perception.

.... (to be continued)