It Depends On Your Beliefs

A phrase often heard in controversial discussions as an attempt to find some type of middle ground is “it depends on your beliefs.”  But what does that really mean?

If I believe the sky is purple, and you believe it is orange, does agreeing to disagree by saying “it depends on your belief” change the fact that the sky is actually blue?  Of course not.  We are both free to believe whatever we want, but society as a whole will still call the sky blue and if we choose to engage in activities requiring factual knowledge we better be prepared to call it blue as well.

Most often, the phrase is heard in political debates.  But do those uttering it, really mean it?  I would venture to guess that most of the time the answer is no.

Would anyone seriously argue that laws regarding murder, rape, assault, or theft should “depend on your beliefs?”  Of course not.  Regardless of ones’ personal beliefs, there is one common principle that the law applies in these situations.  Individuals are free to hold their own beliefs, but they are not free to act on them in a way that would infringe upon the rights of another.

Suppose someone says, “I don’t believe that brunettes are people,” or “I don’t believe that children under the age of five are people.” Does that make it true?  Of course not.  People, are people, and the law is there to protect the rights of all.  Certainly no one would argue that Hitler had a right to kill Jews  because he believed they were not people, or that the Klu Klux Klan has a right to kill African Americans because they believe they are not people.

Why, then, do some of us stubbornly cling to the idea that it is okay for a woman to murder her unborn baby if she doesn’t believe that it is a person yet?

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