| Aristotle is considered to be the first to offer the idea | | | | the death for centuries to prove the superiority of their |
| that the human intellect, "is like a clean table on which | | | | belief system. |
| nothing is written." He referred to this as tabula rasa or | | | | Here's what's interesting about this programming and |
| unscribed slate. The idea is that you are born with an | | | | virtually all of our programming. The programs were |
| empty slate and your influences, experiences and | | | | installed without our permission when we are children. |
| authority figures "program" you in your formative | | | | These imaginary five children had no say in where |
| years. While there is little doubt that certain instincts | | | | they were born nor what they were taught about |
| and genetic "wiring" also play a role in development, | | | | religion. However, each would grow to believe their |
| sexuality and intellect, this idea of programming is more | | | | religion to be the supreme religion and, in many cases, |
| about how you are conditioned to view the world. | | | | are willing to die in that belief. You could say that are |
| Everyday it seems we see images of religious | | | | staking everything on that belief. So, who is your |
| fanatics blowing up themselves and innocent | | | | programmer? |
| bystanders in the name of their religion and their | | | | Actually, you have a lot of them. For most of us, our |
| strongly held beliefs. | | | | programming comes from a conflux of our family, |
| While religious diversity exists in countries allowing such | | | | authority figures such as teachers, clergy, doctors, |
| freedom, the fact remains that what religion you | | | | friends, the media, role models both good and bad, our |
| subscribe to is strongly influenced by your parents, | | | | community, the circumstances of our upbringing |
| authority figures and location. There are not many | | | | (contrast the programming a child received being |
| Christians being raised in Afghanistan. Imagine five | | | | raised poor in the depression era to being raised now |
| children born at the same moment but in five separate | | | | in a middle income home), good and bad experiences |
| locations. America, Thailand, Iran, India and Israel. As | | | | and influences. Understanding programming is important |
| adults odds favor each child believing in the teachings | | | | because it helps you understand why other people act |
| of: America-Christianity, Thailand-Buddhism, Iran-Islam, | | | | the way they do. This doesn't mean you condone their |
| India-Hinduism, and Israel-Judaism. You could say each | | | | actions or even like them, but once you understand |
| was given a different program about religion and the | | | | that we are all products of our programming, it helps |
| hereafter. Some of these programs are so in conflict | | | | you to place the actions of another in a larger context. |
| with other programs that people have been fighting to | | | | |