Can Faith Survive When It Becomes Synonymous With Radical Self-Trust
Faith is an essential component of human life that has been present since ancient times. It refers to a belief in something bigger than oneself and can be defined as trust or confidence in something unseen.
Faith is often misunderstood and misinterpreted due to its association with religion. Many people believe that faith requires blind acceptance of religious dogma, which can lead to oppressive practices such as forced conversion and discrimination against non-believers. In contrast, radical self-trust involves having faith in oneself and one's abilities without relying on external factors. Can these concepts coexist peacefully?
The answer lies in understanding the differences between faith and radical self-trust. While both involve believing in something beyond oneself, they are fundamentally different. Faith is based on a belief system involving spirituality or religion, whereas radical self-trust focuses on personal growth and development. This means that individuals can have faith in a higher power while also having radical self-trust in their own abilities and potential.
A person may have faith in God but still believe in themselves enough to pursue their dreams and take risks.
Radical self-trust requires courage and resilience, qualities that many religions encourage. The Bible says "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me," implying that individuals have the power within themselves to succeed with God's help. Similarly, Islam emphasizes the importance of striving for excellence in all aspects of life, including personal relationships and career goals. By combining faith and radical self-trust, individuals can achieve greater success and fulfillment by trusting in themselves and a higher power simultaneously.
This approach requires careful balance. Overreliance on either faith or self-trust can be problematic. When individuals place too much faith in religious dogma without questioning it, they may ignore important moral issues such as discrimination and violence. On the other hand, excessive reliance on personal capabilities without acknowledging any external forces can lead to arrogance and narcissism. A healthy perspective recognizes that we need both external support and internal confidence to thrive.
Faith and radical self-trust are not mutually exclusive concepts. Individuals can embrace both and use them to achieve success and satisfaction.
They must exercise caution to avoid extremes that threaten their well-being and the well-being of others. As Mahatma Gandhi famously said, "Faith is not the clinging to a shrine; it is advancing into an unknown future." Let us advance together with open minds, accepting our faith and embracing our potential.
Can faith survive when it becomes synonymous with radical self-trust?
No, faith cannot sustain itself if it is reduced to a mere form of self-confidence, as this would mean that one's belief system is based on nothing more than personal preference and subjectivity rather than objective truth. Faith involves placing trust in something beyond oneself, whether that be a divine being or some other higher power, and relying upon this entity for guidance and direction in life.