It is so important for a person to know his or her beliefs and values. This world is already full of its own uncertainties. One should not go through life being uncertain about what he believes is right or wrong as well. If one has the security and certainty of what he believes in, he can use that as a compass in life to guide him to the right path. Right now, society is pulling people in so many different directions by telling them what is right and what is wrong. It is almost as if one does not have the choice to decide them self because if you have the “wrong” opinion, you have a crazy thing coming after you. When each person has their own beliefs about what is morally right, you have seven billion different standards for morality; and who is to say what is really right and what is really wrong?
This is why religion is so important. Each religion carries its own standard of morals for the followers of that religion to believe in, and then carry out with their actions and voice. They can specify how to treat a person, as well as some of the thoughts and behaviors that allow one to reach the final resting place. But with religion slowly fading into the background, what is used to identify the right? Natural Law surely helps because it is a universal moral code that everyone can identify with; such as murder being really wrong. Many societies develop moral codes and enact them as laws that the governed body must follow; such as Hammurabi’s Code from ancient times and the American Constitution that we still use today. Even then, what government really has the authority, that comes from beyond them, to say what is right?
The most important thing about one’s beliefs is to be educated about them and understand them. As children, we are disciplined into following the morals and rules of our parents, but as adults we can think for ourselves and decide whether we should still follow those rules or not. As we get older and see the effects of the rules that our parents gave us, we understand more and more about why they made them. The same goes with morals. Once one learns the why of everything, he can fully embrace the standard. For example, murder being wrong. It is unjust to take another’s life when it was never your decison in the first place. As we become more and more educated about the morals, we understand the truth that lies within them and can follow them more accurately and freely.
The second most important thing about one’s beliefs is standing by them, defending them, and applying them. Once you identify with the set beliefs, you have to abide by them. It is no use saying you believe in something, without acting like you do as well. That is called being a hypocrite. It is so important to stand firm in your beliefs in a society that tells you that anything and everything is okay. Conformity is a huge problem because one just really wants to be like everyone else and jump on the bandwagon to be accepted. Evette Carter says,"Conformity is doing what everyone else is doing, regardless of what is right. Morality is doing what is right, regardless of what everyone else is doing.”
It helps a lot to have friends who can help you, teach you, and guide you in the right direction because they believe in the same things that you do. If you are dentifying with a group but going against its beliefs, where do you really stand with that group then? Do you really understand why you believe in those specific standards? Is it really something you understand? With religion not being a foothold of society today, where do you stand with your own morals and standards?
