Do you ever question your beliefs?

Question

Do you ever really question why you believe something? or wonder where you picked up a belief? not religious beliefs, but personal and/or world-view beliefs....

Answer 1

yes!!..constantly...it's not even a voluntary questioning which comes from thinking things over...questions and doubts over what i believe or my perception of things/people just come by themselves.....I'm not sure if at those times I'm questioning my beliefs, their validity (weather in views or people), or just myself..my ability to interpret, or believe in that belief...(?)

why do i believe something?....if it feels right, if it makes sense, if it tallies with my experiences, then i believe that...even if it is not logical....or makes any sense to others...it would be still my belief...of course, they change with time, and personal growth.....no belief is absolute...

i guess they are formed over time..again..with different experiences, thinking, to some extend influenced by outside forces (society, religion, media etc)...but mostly, they are based on what makes most sense to me.

Answer 2

By definition, you should question your beliefs. It's when your beliefs are justified and true, then they become knowledge; but until then, it's just your hunch.

Now, the loose definition for knowledge is K=JTB or knowledge = justified true belief. But some people have pointed out that there might be a mysterious "Factor X" that needs to be included. Here's why:

Imagine if you had a very accurate watch that has never failed, but in the middle of the night, it stopped on 4:20a. Later that afternoon, for the first time that day, you happen to look at your watch at 4:20p (exactly 12 hours later than the point at which the watch stopped working). You believe it's 4:20p because your watch says so; you're justified in believing so, because your watch has always been reliable (until now, unbeknowst to you); and it's true - it really is 4:20p. So under K=JTF, you would KNOW that it's 4:20p. But....that seems suspect somehow, and it's difficult to say what the missing 4th ingredient is for knowledge.

Of course, now the litmus test for what counts as knowledge becomes very strict, and it's unclear whether we can ever say we KNOW something (other than maybe that "I think" and mathematical/a priori statements). So for all practical purposes, we treat our beliefs AS IF they were knowledge...but if you're a real philosopher, you would be aware of the difference and leave it open that your beliefs could need clarification, update or an overhaul. (Some of mine have in the past.)

Answer 3

Frequently. Whenever there's evidence or credible opinion to the contrary. It's necessary to stay intellectually alive. The "critical thinking" that's taught in schools is usually directed at the usual suspects: old, already overturned assumptions and already-exposed lies and dangers. But any fool can do that. Turn it around and direct critical methods at one's own beliefs and the beliefs that "everybody knows" and those of the intellectual authorities.
___These days it's a little more slippery than in the past. Skepticism is very hip these days, and one can go from the naivete of youth and ignorance to the only moderately less naive skepticism of the moderately educated, and get the feeling that one has questioned beliefs. Well, perhaps one has, but there's another layer or 20 to go. Many people claim with all the self-congratulation of a fundamentalist that there's no such thing as truth or reality or human freedom. The self-congratulation, combined with the fact that skeptics are a dime-a-dozen among undergraduates and high-school overachievers, is a clue to conventional wisdom at play, with little real questioning of beliefs beyond those of a 13-year-old.
___Oh, and it's supposed to make your head hurt. It's called cognitive dissonance. And if you feel like Wile E. Coyote after he's realized that he's run out of cliff and there's nothing under him and gets that look of dread on his face, you'll know you're there.
___Happy hunting.

Answer 4

I used to be counted on a god, now i do no longer, and that i do not doubt that there is not any god, frequently because i replaced into there earlier. I actually were by it from both area and that i could not bypass back to wondering that there is a god anymore. it might want to be a similar as asking me if I ever doubt that there is not any Santa Claus. the answer: no. Does this make me closed-minded? i do not imagine so. It basically signifies that I actually have intently seen the question and performance come to my end and that no longer some thing has come alongside to regulate my options. yet i'm open minded in that if some thing got here alongside that conclusively proved that there replaced right into a god, i'd be in the front row, listening to the information. were given any? And as to Christians being open-minded, I strongly recommend that at the same time as there may nicely be some that are, the vast majority are firmly set of their beliefs and may no longer be dislodged from them no count number what number logical arguments are provided to them. And as for Fundamentalists, they could particularly shrink off their fingers than admit to the threat that they could may nicely be may nicely be incorrect. you should admit, they're about as closed-minded as they arrive. Regards, lady Morgana atheist

Answer 5

Absolute beliefs can be very dangerous for development of any aspect of our development, whether it be spiritual, view of the world or of oneself or others since by definition it defines a closed mind. One should strive on one hand to gather information about things, the important , (or perhaps, ) the insignificant. We are then able to modify, in an on-going way ,our vision and understanding of what is certainly a very complex world we that we live in and often how complex our lives are in it. Beliefs should be kept simple and questionable.

Answer 6

I don't actually ever question my beliefs but I am always aware of the moment when I replace an old belief with a new one. It pays to keep an open mind and be willing to recognize a new truth that fits.

Answer 7

If you never question your beliefs, you can never judge how valid they are, and you can therefore never truly grow in your conviction, or even be sure whether you belive them or not! By questioning, you test them and if they stand to the test, they are worth believing. Questioning also allows you to see your belief from another's point of view, which creates an ability to empathize and open yourself to others. So yes, I definately question my beliefs, and believe it is essential to do so!

Answer 8

As of today, all my beliefs are based on experience, experiments & lot of questioning. I keep testing them on the scale of time regularly so it is an on-going process for me.
The world is always changing so we need to keep some room for those changes to get streamlined with our beliefs & every conflict of beliefs is solved logically & willingly.

Answer 9

Many times - especially the day I realized the Democrat party was run by a bunch of Communists . I didn't let another 24 hours pass before I went to the Voter's Registration , and re-registered as a Republican .

Answer 10

You should ALWAYS question your own beliefs. I believe we have so many problems in the the world simply because people DON'T question their beliefs.

So yes, I always question my beliefs!