Faith is private. Is it?

A “letter to the editor” recently stated that it is wrong to share your beliefs. They are private.

Here are some randomly listed beliefs:

• I believe Jesus rose from the dead, and that fact is relevant to how I live my life today.
• I believe there is no God.
• I believe widows should be burnt alive when their husband dies.
• I believe Crimea should (not) be part of Russia.
• I believe dredging is (not) the answer to flooding in the UK.
• I believe that when you die you will experience everlasting torture in hell.
• I believe David Cameron is a poor, misguided fool.
• I believe Barak Obama meant well but has been corrupted by the system.
• I believe it is wrong to talk about one’s beliefs.

The relevant question, I believe, is: To what extent is it socially acceptable to try to convince others to change their position and adopt my beliefs? A second question is: When it is right to try to change the world based on my beliefs? Does it make any difference what the belief is?

If you believe that widows should be burnt alive when their husband dies, and I do not share your belief, is it right for me to do my best to convince you of the wrongness of your belief, in order to save the lives of widows?

If I were to believe that you will experience everlasting torture in hell when you die, wouldn’t it be morally inadmissible for me not to do all I could to convince you to take the necessary steps to avoid that fate?

If you believe it is wrong to talk about one’s beliefs, you are the only one who should not talk about your beliefs. Otherwise you are being internally inconsistent. However, if we cannot talk about our beliefs what else is there left to talk about? If conversations simply consisted of the exchange of scientifically verified facts I believe the world would be a dull place indeed.

OK, those who like to insist that beliefs are private generally mean religious beliefs. They object to being proselytized. Fair point. But to say that therefore religious beliefs should be kept private is to miss the point. Beliefs are a community thing. Church at its best is for the whole community. 

As for those of us who have faith in God, whatever the precise nature of that faith: my faith is part of who I am. I cannot relate to you with authenticity and integrity unless my faith is part of that relationship. So I will live my faith, in a way that is respectful of your faith/lack of faith, whatever the nature of it is. 

Michael