Why are people afriad to deeply consider why they believe what they believe?

Question

Why do I believe as I do?
What do I base my belief system upon?
Is that basis reasonable?
Why don't I believe something else?

Answer 1

I think people mostly have the beliefs that they have, because it was taught to them as being correct. And who are they to question God, as they have learned him??

I don't know what I believe. I don't know if we have a soul. Maybe we only believe that to make the thought of dying easier. We are more content thinking that there is something else. No one wants to think that we just cease to exist.

I don't know what I base it upon. I just think a lot on my own. I try to combine logic with spirituality. Am I reasonable? I think so. Then again, everyone with any kind of religion, even lack of, thinks that they are reasonable.

Answer 2

Every thing is base on evidence, this is the same for one studing the Bible. This is why it is necessary to study and do a careful research to rebuild one's faith in a personal God. That which cannot satisfy the mind has no right to satisfy the heart. A Christians must be sure that the Scriptures in which they believe are true; They must know the foundation on which they stand.—See 2 Timothy 3:16, 17.

To Illustrate: In school, many are given an assignment to read an entire book. At the end of reading this book , the class reviews or discusses what you understand about the material. its "Introduction", "The theme", and the "Authour" are analised. By then every one is familiar with what the book is about. There is hadly any disagreement as to who the Authour is?, What the Theme is? or Introduction?
The same assignment can be done using the Bible. By reading the entire Bible we can know who it's Authour is: Jehovah God (Ex. 6:3; Ps. 83:18), The Theme and its purpose throughout: The vindication of Jehovah's name by means of the Kingdom Seed. (Gen. 3:15; Gen. 22:15-18; 2 Sam. 7:12, 13; Dan. 7:13, 14; Ezek. 21:25-27) We can know what it says about the Creatour and his purpose for mankind. Also when we review it's contents carefully, we can come to find out what the Creatour requires of us? Not what we require for our selves.
So why are there so many religions and so many different opinions or interpretations of the Bible? Why do many view religion like a "buffet", that they can just pick and choose what we want? Once "save" always is far from truth! That someone believes or accepts Jesus as their personal saviour therefore he/she is saved no matter what! (Note: Matt. 24:13)
Not all religions could be true, for they all contradict one another, but the really true religion must contradict all others.

Jesus said: "YOU will know the truth, and the truth will set YOU free"-John 8:32

Thus, TRUTH that is examined means to make comparisons, calmly and objectively weighing the facts and the arguments presented, and then being willing to pay the cost; For the truth will cost something. (See counseled at Proverbs 23:23) Therefore, let us rely upon God’s inspired Word rather than the traditions of men who are uninspired and who try to support a preconceived opinion. It is only the truth that sets men free.—John 8:32.

Answer 3

Because oftentimes they believe what they believe because they've been taught that way since birth.Also many beliefs are based on historical accounts that could not possibly have ever taken place.That's why you have so many religious fanatics on this site and everywhere else in the world talking about how ignorant people are because they don't believe blah blah blah(exerpt from their religions text).Everyone that does that should just as well shut up because there is no proof that anyone is right.Just believe what you want because noone has the answers.I know exactly why I believe what I do because life and science has taught me.I never push it on anyone due to my confidence that it's true.Nor do I try to refute what others say unless they get out of hand.

Answer 4

The deep rooted fear isn't so much in examining the beliefs but in the possible consequences of finding flaw in them, IMO. If one discovers a flawed foundation belief, that could entail a major readjustment of all other beliefs. It leaves one feeling unbalanced and unconnected for a time. It has the potential to truly shake the foundation that a life has been built around. Personally, I think taking an objective view of what we believe and why is something we ought to do quite frequently. It's a shame to be boxed in by beliefs and cut ourselves off from further exploration and discovery.

Answer 5

Imagine that you're a Christian. All your friends and family are Christians. You've hung out with Christians all your life and have been taught that it's wrong to doubt your faith. The Bible says that doubting is a sin. If I were in this scenario, I'm not sure I'd want to question what I believe either. I used to be a Christian, but I never made a lot of Christian friends. They just acted to happy all the time and none of them were very bright.

My became friends with 2 of the smartest people in my schools. I think a lot of it has to do with what your friends believe. If remember when I was still a Christian and one of my friends kept trying to convince me that it was stupid to believe that Christianity was true since there were other religions that also claim to be true and none have any evidence over the others. It was hard for me to refute his arguments and I always ended up saying something like "if you had a relationship with Jesus then you'd understand", but I was just fooling myself. It's hard to make such a monumentus change in your life. After having many conversations with him I started researching on my own. I read a LOT of book on evolution and took 2 semesters of Biology in college. If my friend hadn't put a little bit of doubt in my mind with his good arguments, I'd probably still be a Christian today. Even today though, I still listen to Christian books on tape that try to prove their point because I don't want to completely eliminate God as a possibility. No one is ever certain of anything. Plus, looking from the Christian point of view also helps to strengthen your arguments to Christians.

I doubt that your question alone will get anyone to question what they believe, but it will help all the Christians who read it. It takes a lot of little things to get someone to change, and some people may never change. Those with a conformist personality who always believe what they are taught aren't likely to change.

Answer 6

Because belief is so interwoven with their identity and world view (especially if they;ve been taught from birth) that to question it would mean to not only turn their world upside down but also to question who they are and touch upon an area that gives their lives meaning. Most people don't question ANY of what they've been taught, including non-religious conditioning.

Answer 7

no rational human being will not have a time for a crisis of faith (or a crisis of belief or disbelief, if you may)
so at that time, they will have to deeply consider their belief system...
and some will be convinced that maybe there is no god...
some will be convinced that there might be a god, but i am unsure...
some will be able to reinforce their faith...
and some will need to re-evaluate everything & start considering other options...

Answer 8

I can only respond directly for my self and indirectly from the testimonies to me from others who share my Faith. For
Those of The True Christian Faith there is no need to make such a self questioning. The reason for our Faith is our personal relationship with our Savior. It is The assurance of God's promise to us of The Truth of our Salvation. This Faith is not something that was from any concious decision on our part. Our Faith is not from any "book learning" or instruction of any man or any doctrin. Our Faith is from a personal one-on-one relationship with God.

No one can just decide to become of The Christian Faith. No one can one day just say they are a Christian. No other mortal man can say you are a Christian. Only God can say who is to be alowed to be part of The Body which is The Church of which Jesus The Christ is The Head... And God only allows those who come to Him in The Way He proscribes to receive His free gift of Salvation.

One of The True Christian Faith knows in whom he believes and why, and how it occured. The True Christian Faith is a Truth that once known will never be renounced.

Answer 9

Typically, they think that they have enough data to have made an informed decision. It takes work to investigate the reliability of such data, and most people are simply too busy trying to survive the vicissitudes of life to do so.

Answer 10

Because they are afraid they'll be wrong or laughed at. OR they are just lazy. OR they go by the "Oprah Syndrome" which is they believe what anyone says. OR the "thats how its always been done" syndrome.