Why Is Religion a Sensitive Topic?
It's my birthday! Only a few days earlier, I spent Christmas with the family. We spent quite a bit of time talking about religion, and I question why it's a sensitive topic.
Hey readers đź‘‹
It’s my birthday! 🎂
You have the pleasure of an older and (supposedly) wiser me writing the newsletter this week.
As usual, Christmas Day was spent with the extended family. Politics was oddly not discussed this year, despite the recent topical election - very unlike my family.
However, we did talk a lot about religion this year. A discussion which started by me asking the family if they really belied that the Virgin Mary, was a virgin. I could not have foreseen how invested people will become on the topic of religion, which was discussed for much of the day.
I have come to learn that discussing religion is off-topic, especially with those who are so set in their beliefs.
It’s improbable that those so set in their beliefs will come to agree that there is even a remote possibility that they may be wrong. Understandably so, because their religion is something they have devoted their whole lives to - it defines them as a person. The possibility that they may be wrong is too painful and certainly not worth losing their identity over. They would rather live a lie, blissfully than to come to terms with the possibility of a painful truth.
Thought From Me
One thing I’ve been thinking about over the break is that “Why do we only make the effort to spend time with friends, families and loved ones at Christmas?”
There’s no real reason for it, so spending time with friends and family is something I’ll be more conscious of. Ensuring I make time for my loved ones all year round, irrespective of how busy I am is my aim for the new year (I don’t do resolutions).
After all, it is our friends and family that make life worth living.
Featured Article
This weeks’ featured article is one I wrote, giving my reasons for ditching Facebook and being more mindful of my social media usage.
Samuel Ajayi-Obe
3 Things I've Enjoyed This Week
- What You’ll Wish You’d Known - A talk Paul Graham planned for high school students, which is very relevant to everyone. TL;DR: It’s okay not to know what you want to do when you’re young. But rather than working back from a goal, you shouldn’t commit to anything. Evaluate the options available to you, select the most promising and most likely to be fulfilling to you.
- Using Words and Phrases That Empower People - “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. Start using words and phrases that empower people. Instead of “I am sorry, or I am always late” try “Thank you for waiting for me””
- Political Theory - Adam Smith. A short video outlining Adam Smith ideas on how to make a capitalist economy more humane and more meaningful. His goal was to make nations and people happier.
Tweet of the Week
If you want to be rewarded, you have to be irreplaceable.
— Naval (@naval) December 26, 2019
If you want to be irreplaceable, you have to be unique.
If you want to be unique, you have to be authentic.
If you want to be authentic, stop listening to everyone and everything else.
It’s drowning “you” out.
This Week's Wisdom
““It is impossible to learn that which one thinks one already knows,” Epictetus says. You can’t learn if you think you already know. You will not find the answers if you’re too conceited and self-assured to ask the questions. You cannot get better if you’re convinced you are the best.”
- Ryan Holiday, in the book: Ego is the enemy
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I also share interesting articles, book quotes, and the occasional speech or TED talk to help us all get smarter, wiser, and live better.
I follow my curiosity at SamuelObe.com
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