We humans often, according to Sartre, deny an absolute freedom that we have by forcing ourselves into acting a certain way because of outside influences such as religion and culture. This to him is "bad faith."
I've always been fascinated by this idea. To what degree does my cultural background, religious or otherwise, determine the things I do. I remember that one of the most frustrating things to encounter as a missionary were people who dismissed you because they said you were brainwashed. It is such an unfair argument! I don't dismiss though the reality of letting ourselves kind of be moved along by predetermined patterns of thought and actions. While my belief and knowledge in my faith remain secure I find it refreshing sometimes to go back to square one and ask myself, "why do I believe this?" I often have the most uplifting scripture studies as I look at basic principles in this light.
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