Keep Belief Personal
PRINCIPLE 2 OF 10
What you believe is your choice. You may believe in God, spirituality, nature, science, something supernatural, nothing supernatural, or simply say, “I don’t know.” You may pray, worship, meditate, follow rituals, follow traditions, or do none of these. You do not need to publicly display your beliefs to prove them. Belief can be personal and private.
The explanation
What you believe is yours. You may believe in God, spirituality, nature, science, something supernatural, nothing supernatural, or remain uncertain. You may worship, pray, meditate, follow rituals, follow traditions, or do none of these. You do not need to publicly demonstrate your beliefs to prove them. Share them when you genuinely wish to. Keep them private when you wish to. Belief is personal.
In the Master Philosophy
A person may believe in God. A person may believe in many gods. A person may believe in spirituality or supernatural things. A person may believe only in what can be demonstrated scientifically. A person may be uncertain. A person may believe nothing supernatural exists. The Way does not require a particular answer. Belief can be deeply personal. Worship, prayer, meditation, rituals, traditions, or other practices may be meaningful to someone, or they may not be. They may be practiced privately or expressed publicly according to the person’s choice and applicable boundaries. No person should have to publicly demonstrate their beliefs simply to prove that those beliefs are genuine.
How to read it
Practical interpretation
- Belief is held inwardly. Sharing is optional; silence is not a test.
- Public and private expression are both the person's own choice.
What this does not mean
- It does not mean belief must be hidden or that public worship is discouraged. It means no one should have to perform belief to prove it is genuine.