Thank you to everyone who showed up yesterday and downloaded a copy of my book! I hope it leaves you with at least one question that makes you want to run free, pop the hood open, take out something mysterious, and see if the car still starts. Go nuts.
About that very large emoji —it was a fat-thumbed error somehow, but we’re leaving it there. Why? Because we’re embracing and celebrating our imperfections.
Speaking of imperfections, let’s talk about that last post. After sharing those parts of me, I always feel a twinge of guilt. I know there are reasons for that, but it doesn’t change the fact that I don’t enjoy feeling exposed—like I’m weak or unable to figure my $h1t out. And let’s be real: I can’t!
Every day, I practice the art of empathy and work to share that flow of thought with the people around me. Yet, it’s so much harder to accept myself than it is to accept a stranger. While I can observe this truth internally, it doesn’t seem to change my thought process or how I perceive myself. There’s something there worth unpacking.
My perception of myself has always been a losing match—it’s a loss every time. I think I need an outside perspective because my internal evaluations often end in self-loathing (haha, honest moment). I evaluate myself based on my own perception, but maybe I need a fresh viewpoint beyond my own. I’ll need to think about that. Therapy has helped me in the past, but I don’t think it’s the answer here. I’m not sure. I’ll get back to it.
Now, about the book. By now, I’m sure you can see why I wanted to share my thoughts on religion and my perspectives. When I left my parents’ house and the church, I spent about two years absorbing the world around me. Imagine this: your whole life, you’ve only known 4 people. Their knowledge is your knowledge, and that’s it. Add to this that I grew up in a small town of about 4,000 people, as the weird homeschool kid and preacher’s kid. A double whammy.
When people talked to me for the first time, I felt on guard. They made me uncomfortable, but I wanted to understand them—where they came from, what they believed. I’d ask everyone I met about their faith or if they went to church. In Oklahoma, where there’s a church on every block, this was an easy conversation starter. I’d listen as they talked about their beliefs, and often, the conversations were more uncomfortable for them than for me.
Looking back, I understand that discomfort better now. People often don’t know why they believe what they do. Their belief systems and traditions are ingrained, passed down without much questioning. And while there’s a mystical quality to tradition—it can make you feel like part of something grand—it’s worth asking: at what cost? Is your tradition or belief system causing harm to others?
Peter Singer, a renowned philosopher, offers a helpful framework for this. He suggests that when making decisions, we should ask: Does it help more people than it hurts? If it hurts more people, why? And does it help anyone at all? From there, we can construct better solutions.
The point is, we need to have these conversations—with ourselves, with others, and especially with people whose perspectives differ from our own. It’s important to recognize that our perception of the world isn’t the only one. We’re all our own judge and jury, but we shouldn’t force our judgments on others. That’s unethical and harmful.
Unfortunately, in our society today, we see this happening a lot. We’ve lost a sense of community and understanding. When was the last time you talked to your neighbors? Showed care for someone outside your immediate circle? We’re isolating ourselves from one another, and it’s not sustainable.
As a nation, we’re letting myths and fairy tales govern us—impacting healthcare, education, and fundamental rights. This isn’t just misguided; it’s dangerous. If we continue down this path, division will deepen, and some of us may no longer feel safe in our own country.
I know this sounds bleak, but it’s a reality we need to face. Blind faith in ideologies without questioning or research leads to harm. And yes, it makes me angry. It’s infuriating to see such a large group of people care more about upholding their beliefs than about the well-being of others.
So, I’ll stop here before I get too far down the rabbit hole. Believe in yourself, question everything, and don’t vote for people who use religion as a weapon.
Have a wonderful Sunday!
🇦🇺 🇦🇺Australian philosopher 🇦🇺🇦🇺
Check out his free AI on the page too! It’s his brain 🧠 digitized, very cool