Conviction. Faith. Science… And the Grey Matter in between.
Colloquially a convict is a person serving a life sentence in prison. Conviction on the other hand expresses belief and strong opinion, and also the judgement penned upon a convict.
Ironically, the word conviction can also be understood in a far-fetched broader sense of being obsessed with one’s ideologies – of living in one’s own prison.
Our ideologies and beliefs are what truly characterize us as individuals. The principles in life we learn, cherish and practice eventually determine the path we follow.
Fortunately/Unfortunately, there are several external factors that guide and control the lives of many. The tenets people believe in determine their way of life; if not entirely, then definitely in largely influential ways.
Very rarely are questions raised over the genesis of most beliefs. The most commonplace being religion, or in a milder and dignified way of terming it - ‘faith’. Those beliefs that got substantiated by facts came to be known as sciences. Undoubtedly, it was the advent of discoveries and inventions that provided the momentous inception of a new gospel way of life.
People indoctrinated by faith live lives created and governed by a mystic Creator. For such individuals, their understandings of the world around them become postulates to the belief of their origin. So inevitably, the guideline principles of their faiths also cordon their lives into a fixed set of actions, duties, responsibilities and habits.
Distinct from faith-believers, there are many who process their lives having the realms of the world as the basis of their existence and journeys of life. Such men and women who raised questions against popular beliefs, sought answers in science.
However, it must be noted that faith and science are not the only dogmas governing lives. Convictions based on socio-ideologies are conspicuously prevalent in the politicized human society. The supposed quest for a better socio-political setup led to the instillation of several socio-ideologies which became a way of life for many.
Then there are those few who live by the simple conviction of sheer freewill. It is these scarcely found individuals who differentiate themselves from the herds. They are the architects and artists of their own lives.
But then again, all faith, science and socio-ideology believers will vehemently acclaim the proprietorship of freewill for themselves and their kind.
This is the charm of conviction. It has the capacity to overwhelm one’s understandings and sensibilities - to blanket the in-between grey matter of confusion, apathy, acceptance and denial.
Ironically, the word conviction can also be understood in a far-fetched broader sense of being obsessed with one’s ideologies – of living in one’s own prison.
Our ideologies and beliefs are what truly characterize us as individuals. The principles in life we learn, cherish and practice eventually determine the path we follow.
Fortunately/Unfortunately, there are several external factors that guide and control the lives of many. The tenets people believe in determine their way of life; if not entirely, then definitely in largely influential ways.
Very rarely are questions raised over the genesis of most beliefs. The most commonplace being religion, or in a milder and dignified way of terming it - ‘faith’. Those beliefs that got substantiated by facts came to be known as sciences. Undoubtedly, it was the advent of discoveries and inventions that provided the momentous inception of a new gospel way of life.
People indoctrinated by faith live lives created and governed by a mystic Creator. For such individuals, their understandings of the world around them become postulates to the belief of their origin. So inevitably, the guideline principles of their faiths also cordon their lives into a fixed set of actions, duties, responsibilities and habits.
Distinct from faith-believers, there are many who process their lives having the realms of the world as the basis of their existence and journeys of life. Such men and women who raised questions against popular beliefs, sought answers in science.
However, it must be noted that faith and science are not the only dogmas governing lives. Convictions based on socio-ideologies are conspicuously prevalent in the politicized human society. The supposed quest for a better socio-political setup led to the instillation of several socio-ideologies which became a way of life for many.
Then there are those few who live by the simple conviction of sheer freewill. It is these scarcely found individuals who differentiate themselves from the herds. They are the architects and artists of their own lives.
But then again, all faith, science and socio-ideology believers will vehemently acclaim the proprietorship of freewill for themselves and their kind.
This is the charm of conviction. It has the capacity to overwhelm one’s understandings and sensibilities - to blanket the in-between grey matter of confusion, apathy, acceptance and denial.
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