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Blog Entry 13 of 31 Personal Transformation and the World Around You.
The culture we live and the events around us directly effect the way we think and feel about things. This blog will discuss the world around us and ways to transform our lives.

Blog Url: http://denver.yourhub.com/~MichaelKilmanblog

The Heretic
Contributed by: Michael Kilman   on 2/14/2008

Lately I discovered that the original meaning of the word heretic comes from the Greek word hereses. The meaning of the word hereses is a person who chooses their own truth. When coming across this meaning I thought to myself, well don't we all choose our own truth?

I think it is entirely important that we choose our own truth. We have to do what we think is right and what feels right for ourselves. Of coarse we must always be mindful of the world around us and how our actions effect it, but it is important that we choose our own path, our own way in the world. Every worldview, religion, and philosophy has come about because one person, or a small group dared to embrace his or her own truths.

Might I also say that this has not always been a positive experience. Hitler for example embraced what he felt was true and things were not exactly on the positive end. So there then must be a balance. You must embrace our personal truth, you must become a heretic, but you must also be mindful of the needs and dreams of those around you. You must remember that we are not just here to take care of ourselves, but also to take care of each other.

Be careful when you introduce your belief, or worldview to others. In cultural anthropology we study what is known as an integrated system of culture. Each culture is like that of an engine in a car. Each part must be working together or the entire system will cease to work. This is why missionaries must be very careful when working with other cultures. It is why Cultural Anthropologists spend time learning everything about the culture before making any social changes.

Changing one thing, even the person's religion can destroy the entire culture, and cause poverty, social inequality, and extremely difficult living conditions. Take the fuel pump out of a car and the car will no longer function. Take that fuel pump away entirely and the entire engine will have to be rebuilt using some other kind of energy source.

It would not be good of we all thought alike, or all believed the same thing. Our diversity is what makes this world so wonderful. When you can be comfortable enough with your own beliefs that you don't feel the need to force them on others, which is living within your own personal truth. Not everyone will believe what I believe, that is why in many ways I am the Heresis, because I choose my truth.

"Therefore, be ye lamps unto yourselves, be a refuge to yourselves. Hold fast to Truth as a lamp; hold fast to the truth as a refuge. Look not for a refuge in anyone beside yourselves. And those, who shall be a lamp unto themselves, shall betake themselves to no external refuge, but holding fast to the Truth as their lamp, and holding fast to the Truth as their refuge, they shall reach the topmost height." - Gautama Buddha




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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Michael Kilman

Castle Rock , CO

Michael Kilman has posted 31 blog entries and 19 comments since joining on 1/5/2008. Michael Kilman 's average blog rating is 4.97.
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