On personal beliefs

As I stated in a previous letter, some people who hear voices are sane and some might not be. Four scenarios were given to demonstrate that people can say they hear voices from different sources.

Two of my new friends in Northwest Arkansas seemed to take exception to that opinion. They wrote that it takes a fair amount of arrogance and nerve to demean someone else’s personal beliefs and that I was sneering when I penned my opinion. I’ve only known three people that I would consider to be someone who sneered at people. One of them is dead and I don’t associate with the other two. I agree that it does take a fair amount of arrogance and nerve to demean someone’s personal beliefs. It seems that my new friends may have been trying to disparage my personal belief, which may not have been the same as theirs. Some might have even considered their written response as arrogant and possibly delivered with a sneer.

Everyone is entitled to their own beliefs. Many people even change their beliefs as their circumstances change, while others might keep the same beliefs no matter what happens. Some believe that not everyone who claims to speak with God actually does. Just because one says he receives his instructions from God doesn’t always make it so. Some might also believe that God would not tell a televangelist to fleece his flock to purchase a $54 million jet.

I still personally believe that some who hear voices are sane and some might not be, but I do appreciate my new friends’ criticism and concern.

RANDY BLAKEY Cabot