On Belief

Let me be clear about something.  I am not a "believer" in any particular doctrine, in a fundamentalist sense.  I have opinions, thoughts, ideas, even paradigms; ones that I have strong resolve about.  I am a Communist of the Marxist-Leninist variety because I feel these ideas are of benefit to me and those who are in a similar position as me (particularly the working-class), but should I find that these ideas and methodologies to actually be harmful to me and my class then I won't hesitate to renounce these ideas and methodologies.  I look to the teachings of particular theorists (Marx, Lenin, Castro, young Mao, late Malcolm X) as guidelines for the pragmatic practice of liberation.  The distinction is that I see these ideas as beneficial at a particular juncture in space and time for myself and my class, rather than a fundamentalist faith to be upheld despite changes in material conditions and circumstance.  These opinions are not beliefs because they are subject to the scientific method of revision should conditions change.  My views have gone from a particular brand of Christian to mystic to anarchist to left-wing socialist to communist.  My views may change in the future because I am still a student of knowledge.  This is not to undermine my views at present, but to strengthen them.  Should I hold a particular truth to be self-evident at a certain juncture that means that I see that truth as being of benefit to me at that juncture.  That said, I do believe in one thing, I believe in myself and the struggle for my own liberation.  At this time I see that liberation as being tied to the struggle for liberation of all peoples.  I will not relent in this view unless new evidence is presented that is so undeniable that I am forced to renounce that viewpoint.  Until then I am a proud Communist of the Marxist-Leninist tendency and I will struggle with the revolutionary party that I belong to until the working class has won.