The Relevance Of Independent Thinking
Nobody is a master, except by making others competent masters.
By
The Man Who Saw God Face To Face
Raphael Okechukwu Nweze
Introduction
A thinking devotee, who questions the correctness of the teachings being given to him, is far better than the majority, who receive every teaching without critical analysis. Many are like baby in the arms, who eats whatever is placed inside its mouth, without knowing whether that thing is good or bad.
Meaning Of Independent Thinking
Independent thinking is the right and ability a person has to study and examine issues, without being guided, persuaded, forced or manipulated. An independent thinker is free to ask questions or investigate the teachings being given to him.
The Negative Hold Of The Religions And Churches
One problem with the religions and their churches is that they do not allow independent thinking by the members. By so doing, the religions and churches have become prisons that hold people captives and prevent them from seeking, finding and knowing the Truth. The members of the respective churches are pleased to remain ordinary members, when in fact they were called to be earnest seekers of the Truth.
The result is that, over the years, people have become spiritually dead, stagnant and complacent (falsely satisfied), without knowing that they are stepping into the hell fire. People remain on the surface of the ocean, without diving deep to see the treasures inside or flying up to the sky to enter the gate of heaven. This is spiritual death, and it is quite unfortunate.
The Disappointment From Religions Leaders
Today, in the world, there are so many religious leaders. One fact that the general public do not know is that most of the religious leaders are spiritually blind and dead. They are not spiritually awake, enlightened or experienced. That is why they suppress freedom of thought. That is also the reason why they are unable to answer so many important questions that people have in their hearts and clear the doubts in people’s mind.
Study the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, and you would discover that He was always answering questions. He was able to read the thoughts of people and would even answer before people ask what is in their hearts and mind. He was indeed the perfect teacher, unlike the modern day religious leaders, who do not allow people to ask questions and do not know enough to clear the doubts in people’s mind.
The religious leaders teach “just believe” attitude, whereas the scriptures state that people should examine whatever they hear, test every spirit and seek for the Truth only. That is why Jesus said that you shall know the Truth and the Truth shall set you free. He knows that only Truth, not religion or church, shall set you free.
The worst is that people are not seeking for the Truth. Worse still, is the fact that they do not even know that they should seek for the truth. To both learned and unlearned, I repeat the warning of Jesus:
“Let them alone: they are blind leaders of the blind. If the blind lead the blind, both shall full into a pit.”
What is more? Whoever that follows a blind man, makes himself a blind fellow.
Conclusion
You should seek, find and know the Truth. This is a personal responsibility, which everyone has to do for himself. Those who limit themselves to their religions are only busy deceiving themselves, because they are following spiritually blind and ignorant religious leaders.
The religious leaders should not be afraid of encouraging the freedom of independent thinking and investigation. The reason is that Truth is unchanging and universal. Those who earnestly seek for the Truth, end up finding the same Manifest but Hidden Truth. The Truth is manifest because it is life and clear to the true saints of God. Life is an open book, which only those who are spiritual can read and understand. Others leave the substance and follow the shadow. The same Truth is hidden to those who are worldly minded, because they are sleeping giants that have refused to open their eyes.