What I Believe
Our worldview should never be set on autopilot. Intentional reflection and articulation are essential to maintaining healthy values.
Leo Tolstoy and Bertrand Russell wrote books entitled “What I Believe.” From 1951 to 1955, the late journalist Edward R. Murrow had a radio program entitled “This I Believe”, during which listeners could share with the world their convictions and the reasons they had for holding them. From 2005 to 2009, National Public Radio (NPR) continued the “This I Believe” tradition by allowing audience members to submit short essays describing their beliefs, some of which were read on the air by the author.
The importance of continuously inventorying and reflecting upon our beliefs can’t be overstated. The purpose of taking stock of our most cherished beliefs is not to preserve them, though for those able to stand the test of time a regular review of them may help us do so. The reason is, to put it simply, intentionality.
We expect a young child to unquestioningly take on the beliefs of their parents and others close to them. However, to the extent mature adults still share the same values their parents held it is reasonable to expect them to have developed justifications of their own for integrating them into their worldview.
