Religiously-minded people can be very persuasive. They will appeal to sacred texts, traditions, history, and religious authorities to justify their beliefs and, in doing so, will speak with certainty. They will declare that what they believe is "The Truth" and must be agreed to by all. 

Yet for me, a simple question arises: Why must it? 

When I encounter the self-proclaimed righteous, I begin with this quiet acknowledgement: many people in the world believe they have the truth, and yet they profoundly disagree with one another. History itself reminds us of this. 

In the Bible, at the end of 2 Chronicles, the Jewish exiles are said to return to Jerusalem under the authority of Yahweh. Yet the Cyrus Cylinder records the same event and attributes the decision to the Babylonian god Marduk. Which God authorised the return? Yahweh or Marduk? 

Those committed to one perspective will always find ways to dismiss the other. Yet notice something important: 

• The historical fact is that the exiles returned,

• The interpretation of which God authorised it is a belief.

When someone insists that their beliefs are factual truth, I quietly remind myself that we are dealing with worldviews layered upon shared historical events. 

It's why every belief system forms a kind of circle. Inside that circle, the world makes perfect sense. Outside of it, those same beliefs can appear incoherent or even nonsensical. People who insist they possess the truth are usually speaking from within their circle, and in it, their logic is internally consistent. 

Yet you do not have to step inside their circle. Nor do you have to argue your way out of it. Sometimes the most powerful response is simply, “I see,” or “Uh-huh.” Not as sarcasm. Not in agreement. Simply as non-participation. 

You are not obligated to debate anyone, nor are you required to justify your silence. You owe no one a theological defence of your peace. Furthermore, the deeper question is not, Is this belief true? but, What fruit does this belief produce? 

If a religious belief justifies anger, hatred, violence, fear, guilt, shame, or judgement, I refuse to endorse it. If a belief produces greater Love, Joy, Peace, and Freedom in the world, I embrace it. 

This is always the test. 

It is not about intellectual dominance, but lived outcome. That is also the basis of The Path - A refusal to endorse any belief that generates harm in the world, no matter how loudly it is defended or how many texts are cited in support of it. This refusal does not need to be spoken aloud. It can remain internalised. 

Someone may say, “If you don’t believe this, you will go to hell," and you can quietly think, That is your belief, not mine. 

You can let their words pass over you like you would a newspaper headline you choose not to read. You do not need to become emotionally hooked. You do not need to counter their beliefs. You do not need to answer every demand placed upon you.

Silence is not weakness. 

It is sovereignty. 

Claim yours. 

If you are interested in opening up space in your life to explore these ideas further, The Book of Liberty was written to help.