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Freedom of thought
Ben Antao
Re: <Religion by
definition does not permit freedom of thought.>
My first gut reaction to the above statement is so what?
Allow me to elaborate.
Freedom of thought is an illusion of the rational man. There is no such
animal, and if there is, it must surely dwell in the presumptive mind
that places the lantern of reason over the heart of emotion.
Accordingly, I submit that the pursuit of the idea of freedom of thought
is at best relative; at worst arrogant.
Secondly, the statement attributed to religion is tautological to a
certain prejudice practiced by those who being gifted with a superior
intellect claim that the faculty of mind is superior to the intuitive
heart.
A person who thinks with his heart will never accept such superiority;
neither indeed will one who feels with his mind. I would rather prefer a
dynamic tension between a thinking heart and a feeling mind. But, hey,
that’s just me. Others are welcome to air their prejudicially superior
standpoints.
Thirdly, this illusion of freedom of thought operates at every level of
one’s adult life. If I accept a philosophical position of a Camus or a
Sartre or a Kafka, it means I have surrendered to these so-called
philosophers of life; if I accept a theological position of a pope or a
rabbi or a imam or a guru, it means I have chosen to surrender my
freedom of thought to these spiritual teachers. Why, I might extend this
train of thought and say that every time a student accepts a guiding
principle from his teacher, he has abdicated his freedom of thought.
Therefore, I would submit that we should not make too much of this
statement called ‘freedom of thought’. It’s an illusion that affects
both believers and non-believers. What’s more, people need illusions to
get them through life.
Some instances of illusion:
If I work hard, I’ll succeed; if I make myself pretty, I’ll find love
and happiness; if I become a doctor or lawyer or teacher or writer, I’ll
achieve material success and command respect in society; if I become a
politician or a president, I’ll be able to do anything I want and get
away with it.
Public relations types and spin doctors all over the world try to
manipulate citizens to their perceived view of the world. All these
‘illusions’ look great and exciting from a distance and for a time; but
in the ultimate analysis they still remain as illusions, just as
so-called
freedoms of thought.
That’s my point of view, which may be flawed and subjective; but I can
live with it. Hope you can live with yours.
All the best.
Ben Antao
April 29, 2002 |
