All things, people, plants, other animals, all inanimate things do not exist in the past or the future but solely in a moving fragment of time which we call ‘the present’. The set of beliefs, convictions, knowledge, superstitions, behaviour patterns, physical attributes and history which is our individual identity is a shifting and moving thing. We change our beliefs over time according to new knowledge and experiences, this is healthy and normal but we cannot predict at any one time how our beliefs will change in the future. A paradox occurs here; the less a particularly strong belief is related to evidence then the easier it is to make it an ‘article of faith’ and a dangerous loss to our identity if we abandon it particularly if our habits,customs, social life and welfare are engaged in its continuance. A cursory look at the history of authoritarian regimes of government shows how harmful this can be.
This is true for personal and family relationships as well as those of governments of nations and empires. There is only one general answer which is to accept that all of our ideas, beliefs and habits have value in as much as they allow constant adaption for the better.
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