Standing Up for What You Believe In

(Even if It Means Standing Alone)

“Believe to the end, even if all men went astray and you were left the only faithful; bring your offering even then and praise God in your loneliness.”

Fyodor Dostoevsky

It is no small thing to go against the crowd, and for good reason: going against the crowd at most times in our evolutionary history would have resulted in ostracism and ultimately death.

Human beings have always been stronger in groups. Even the introverts among us are still social creatures! However, with the desire to conform comes the risk of dogma. Dogma is defined as “a principle or set of principles laid down by an authority as incontrovertibly true.” (dictionary.com).

Functioning groups depend on each individual to balance the pull to conform to the crowd with a dedication to truth. If individuals within a group fail to state what they believe to be true, the group ultimately will fall victim to reality.