THE STORIES OF ORDINARY PEOPLE
I don’t believe in any specific religion. I don’t even want to call it spirituality – you know, in the commercialised sense with all the kind of hippy paraphernalia? But more in terms of the Buddhist practice of spirituality. Not in terms of dogmatic belief but in terms of scripture. I side more with theRead more about He embodies what I believe: that you have to follow your purpose.[…]
I believe in the humanity of human beings. I was born in a Catholic family, which is actually quite unusual for India, it is a very very small percentage. When I was in medical school around 19, I had my first confrontation with the church, with the local priest. Something happened, and I was extremelyRead more about I would really like to reach a state where my trust is not dependent on whether it’s reciprocated[…]
There’s many types of belief. Religious belief, political belief, how much you trust one friend over another. Many people believe what they grew up to believe – what they were encouraged or told to believe. But I was raised by a single mother who had perhaps the most hands-off approach to raising me that IRead more about Suddenly you realise, “oh yeah – that’s what I believe”[…]
I don’t want to start off with a negative answer, but I want to say I don’t believe in anything spiritual. And I suppose what I do believe in is concepts like fairness, respect, honesty, that you don’t necessarily need to link to something extra-human. But then what do I mean with believe in thoseRead more about I’m committed to fairness and justice but I still breathe life into capitalism in what I do every day. So I guess that’s kind of hypocritical and contradictory.[…]
I believe in God. My religion is Protestant. I know that God is there, although I’ve never seen him. I grew up in Uganda, in a family that believes in God. My grandmum was a strong Christian believer, and she always encouraged us to go to church. But not only her, most of the familyRead more about I might not encourage the practice of homosexuality, okay, but everybody has a right, we are not to judge and kill people. That power is beyond us.[…]
I believe in something, I’d call it God, that acts as a limitation on human aspiration. And I mean that in a very positive way. Fundamentally I believe that humans are good creatures. They’re perfect as they are. And if they don’t accept that limitation, and try to be bigger than they are, then theyRead more about You’re just a believer because you’re a hipster; it’s your new gadget[…]
[This week’s interviewee didn’t want their picture taken. Instead they asked to post a picture of “my hero, Epictetus” – the Greek slave-cum philosopher] What I believe depends on the time of day really. Everyone has doubts. But I’d say I’m a Muslim. That’s the moral system that’s most compatible with what I consider to beRead more about I don’t waste time arguing with people about the veracity of Noah’s Ark[…]
I believe in a lot of things. I believe there is a God, I believe there is a greater presence. I believe in connections: historical connections with ancestors before me, and connections with the community that is here now. I believe in cultivating those connections. And those connections offer a lot of really important valuesRead more about A glass of wine is fine, but not doing it out of peer pressure – that’s where religion comes in[…]
I would describe myself as an agnostic atheist. So I lack a belief in a god or anything like that. It doesn’t play any role in my life. But I don’t claim to be sure that there isn’t a god. But, for me, the idea that there was a big bang, and then a universeRead more about In the end, the more you dig, the more questions pop up[…]
I believe in…it’s a tough question. To me, believing something is like to think of something as very static, as if it will never change. We conceptualise religion – whether Islam, Christianity or some other, as something which will be the same and prevail over time. But to me…I doubt that. Because to me, it’sRead more about I believe it’s better not to believe[…]