All humans have something in common. It does not matter whether we are rich or
poor, black or white, Asian or Hispanic, Muslim or Buddhist, Catholic or
Protestant, atheist or pantheist, liberal or conservative, we all possess the
same thing. I am not referring to DNA or
a human body. This universal possession
is a worldview.
What is a worldview? As can be gathered from the word itself, a worldview is a lens through which an individual views the world. Worldviews are inescapable: while a man can change his worldview, discarding and adopting aspects as he sees fit, he cannot reject worldviews as a whole. Just as we all have pupils through which we must look if we are to see, so we all possess a worldview through which we must look if we are to live.
Every person’s worldview is different. Just as fingerprints, voices, or gaits are different, no two worldviews are exactly alike. Some may be very similar to each other, but none will exactly mirror one another. It is impossible to change another’s worldview: that can only be done by that person himself; in the same way a password can only be changed by someone who knows the password, the worldview can only be changed by the one whose it is.
What is a manifesto, then? A manifesto is a statement of beliefs. In effect, it is a handbook for understanding a worldview. No one person can write a manifesto for another: just as your worldview is unique to you, your manifesto is unique to your worldview.
Why write a manifesto? First, it helps others to understand your beliefs. It is a way of laying out an honest opinion and allowing others to know that, when it comes to your belief system, what you see is what you get. In addition, and more importantly, it helps you to understand your own beliefs. It is not until you make yourself write down a statement of your beliefs that you are forced to honestly face those beliefs. Writing down a manifesto is a way of forcing yourself to “man up,” in a sense, and face who you are. In crafting a manifesto, you anchor your life in what you believe to be true, not in order to never have a debate, but in order to not be able to debate and be confident enough in your beliefs that you will not be swayed simply because you have not decided yet what you believe.
This, then, is my statement of beliefs. It is inadequate, of course, for entire volumes could be and have been written on each of these topics. However, it is enough to have an understanding of my belief system. In it, I look at ten separate disciplines that I believe make up a comprehensive worldview. Each of these disciplines builds upon each of the others, and they are all essential to holding a complete perspective on reality.
I do not write this to persuade you of anything. Rather, I write it as an invitation to inspect your own beliefs and honestly ask yourself if you really believe that what you believe is true. And if you do not, ask yourself why you still hold to those beliefs.
What is a worldview? As can be gathered from the word itself, a worldview is a lens through which an individual views the world. Worldviews are inescapable: while a man can change his worldview, discarding and adopting aspects as he sees fit, he cannot reject worldviews as a whole. Just as we all have pupils through which we must look if we are to see, so we all possess a worldview through which we must look if we are to live.
Every person’s worldview is different. Just as fingerprints, voices, or gaits are different, no two worldviews are exactly alike. Some may be very similar to each other, but none will exactly mirror one another. It is impossible to change another’s worldview: that can only be done by that person himself; in the same way a password can only be changed by someone who knows the password, the worldview can only be changed by the one whose it is.
What is a manifesto, then? A manifesto is a statement of beliefs. In effect, it is a handbook for understanding a worldview. No one person can write a manifesto for another: just as your worldview is unique to you, your manifesto is unique to your worldview.
Why write a manifesto? First, it helps others to understand your beliefs. It is a way of laying out an honest opinion and allowing others to know that, when it comes to your belief system, what you see is what you get. In addition, and more importantly, it helps you to understand your own beliefs. It is not until you make yourself write down a statement of your beliefs that you are forced to honestly face those beliefs. Writing down a manifesto is a way of forcing yourself to “man up,” in a sense, and face who you are. In crafting a manifesto, you anchor your life in what you believe to be true, not in order to never have a debate, but in order to not be able to debate and be confident enough in your beliefs that you will not be swayed simply because you have not decided yet what you believe.
This, then, is my statement of beliefs. It is inadequate, of course, for entire volumes could be and have been written on each of these topics. However, it is enough to have an understanding of my belief system. In it, I look at ten separate disciplines that I believe make up a comprehensive worldview. Each of these disciplines builds upon each of the others, and they are all essential to holding a complete perspective on reality.
I do not write this to persuade you of anything. Rather, I write it as an invitation to inspect your own beliefs and honestly ask yourself if you really believe that what you believe is true. And if you do not, ask yourself why you still hold to those beliefs.
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