The Gateway to Disbelief

The intellectual gateway to disbelief is a core principle, a fundamental understanding that I am not exceptional in comparison to any other member of the human family.

The differences we see when we observe people of other races, backgrounds, economic status, beliefs, sex, and so on do not spring from any inherent superiority in one person or group. Rather, we are who we are because we happened to be born in a certain place, at a certain time, and among certain people (Jared Diamond's Gun's Germ's and Steel is a great illustration of this point). I am no better than a Bushman, an Iraqi mother, a Chinese businessman, or anyone else.

Once we understand that we could have just as likely been born under different circumstances, we can't help but relate how we live and believe with the way others do. If I am a Protestant who understands this core principle of equality, I'll be compelled to admit that my belief is, in large part, a consequence of chance. And I couldn't help but observe that a majority of people born in Iraq become practicing Muslims, a majority of Indians adopt Hinduism, and Christians like myself are usually born in western Europe or the United States.

Taking it further, when open-minded believers are shocked by some of the seemingly absurd or radical beliefs of others, they will tell themselves that it could be themselves who believe that way (if their lives had followed the same path as the others); and perhaps, they hold more in common with those radical believers than they would like to think.