Do you critically analyze your beliefs, or just accept what authority figures tell you to believe?

Question

ie...do you hold beliefs because you were raised to believe that is the way things are, or have you questioned if things really are the way you have been taught.
For example, I was raised christian, then I began to see that some people who claimed to be christian didn't live their lives that way, it made me question what it meant to be christian and realized that one can be a good, moral person without being a christian.

Answer 1

I acepted what I had been taught until I was about 15. Then I started thinking for myself. I arrived at the same conclusion as you did. For the past 35 years I have strived to conform to my own standards of morals, because that is what I know I should do. Not because of fear of Hell, or a hope of Heaven. If these were my reasons, then I'd be acting on selfish principles only. I wish to be able to look myself in the eyes in the mirror and say: I respect this person. Like I said, I've worked on it for 35 years now, and I think I'm getting there, lol. When I started to analyze and think, that was when I started to learn. About morals, ethics, principles and standards, about duties, about myself. Good luck!

Answer 2

I critically analyze to the point where it becomes logical to accept what someone tells me.

As for some of the diverse blatherings above me:

I think efw needs to be sure that dogma really is incompatible with logic by actually looking at it first. Because the foundations of Christian dogma are found most stated in the works of St. Thomas Aquinas, who took his method from Aristotle, the chief figure thought of in conjunction with logic.

As for bareicutie: I get the feeling that my religion is being dissed. I'm a Catholic. Catholicism has been around in every country of the world for almost two thousand years; it was established by the most recognized figure in the history of time (we base our calendars around him) and it has NEVER ONCE changed its dogma. But I still believe it. I hardly think myself a sheep for doing so.

Answer 3

I believe in believing. There cant be one god for everyone. Our culture, our history, our society shapes who and what each of us is, what we become. It is a continual growing and learning experience from the moment of conception until the moment of death. I believe it is possible to learn new, such as religion, make the conversion to the new belief, and live a full life., but you can never give up or forget the beliefs that have been imprinted. these beliefs are in your memory banks, and unless you lose all memory functions, and have no instinctive nature,you will find yourself always doing, acting or unconsciously behaving in the mannerism of your imprinted belief. To question these beliefs, these teachings, is a reinforcement of the ways you were taught. One either rebels and adapts them self to the thinking's that best fit ones values, or one clings more strongly to the imprinted ideas and teachings. to explore the beliefs and behaviors of other religions and cultures expands us out of our tiny self world to see and know there are other religions, cultures, worlds to experience

Answer 4

Until recently I believed that authority figures are always right. But this belief made my life a total mess because I found out that they were not serving me at all. They were actually sabotaging my life. Now I have learned that one is given an inner voice to listen to and not to ignore at any cost. Even if the whole world turns against you, you MUST listen to and follow your own heart to live a satisfying life.

Answer 5

well, I was raised catholic and i study in a catholic skool n i have a class that is all about the catholics believes n all that n have mass at the skool the one that i had to go no matter what cuz it was at skool time,n when i graduated from 8 grade I had to mass (the same thing as in 12 grade) but i really dont consider myself catholic im young I know but o keep questioning about the catholics beliefs n I dont consider myself a true catholic. Maybe sumday I will turn out to be a great catholic or sumthing else! just give time to the time!

Answer 6

i began out examining my own Christian beliefs. i ultimately determined that any supernatural activities that ought to in undemanding words be validated through man or woman memories (even in a set), are too on the point of the definition of schizophrenia to be taken heavily. journey can actual be falsified. All you pick are autonomous witnesses who do not see an same element you probably did. An "stumble upon" with the Lord is interior an same experiential type as a alien deliver abduction, intensely emotional and with out empirical evidence. it ought to actual be no longer some more thing effective than a chemical imbalance contained in the mind brought about through severe choose. And asking "good" questions is code for asking permissible questions, no longer inconvenient ones. You condemn technology because that is continuously "replacing". The clinical approach would relax at cases on the rather good help of a properly-examined idea, even if it in no way assumes that its information is proper. The questions continuously resume, yet old, discredited question do not get rehashed. Physicists in no way communicate the mechanics of a flat Earth anymore. Geneticists prepare no actual interest in revisiting the perception of spontaneous era. compared, "information" per revelation perpetually forbids communicate of its undemanding premises. The believer in no way dares research the beginning of his beliefs, in undemanding words per chance argues about trivial information in an in the different case unquestioned mythos. turning out to be information of a useless article reaches a decrease. How far will i'm getting into existence memorizing the geography of Narnia, or the heritage of center Earth? that is a lot more effective correct to make sure precisely how the molecules of a ubiquitous plastic would paintings jointly with my inner organs, or be taught the particular heritage of a rustic my usa is at conflict with. those information would replace with time, yet it really is what the international is about, replace.

Answer 7

No one can make you believe anything regardless of age. An adult can preach and insist that you follow certain guidelines, but belief is a mental process. It is a willful act of your will. When you disbelieve, it is the same thing. Having said that, stop blaming authority figures for what you believe. You chose to believe it.

Since faith is an intregal part of your life, be at peace and stop analyzing it to death.

Answer 8

I am not one to just blindly follow along with what I was given. I also read other books and spoke with different people. I discovered for myself that christianity is not "THE" way, but it is A way. As for 'morals' I can only say that I disagree on several things christians consider to be immoral. I believe in gay marriage, I think tattoos are ok, I believe birth controls and abortion are not wrong, I don't believe sex is only for creating children... I believe it's wrong to lie, use and betray people (especially if they were good to you), it's wrong to cheat on your lover, and it's wrong to murder without good reason. (abortion is not murder). Yes, I think it is possible for people to be good human beings and they don't need christianity to do it.

Answer 9

I used to be restrained by christian dogma, but recently began to use the cerebral cortex part of my brain, the area of logic and rationality. Now i find the old belief pretty darn ludicrous.

Answer 10

I do not need to be good because a religion telles me to be good.

Some people do though.