Why is it that people have irrational beliefs no matter what?

Question

I don't understand why everyone has to have irrational beliefs? Like, no matter how much you try to convince them of the truth, they reject everything you say. They can't even bring themselves to say 'it's an interesting point.'

Answer 1

It's human nature

Answer 2

Humans are very complicated. Some hate themselves to the point where they can't accept being wrong about anything. Some need to hold onto their prejudices because rigidness is safe, or they need to believe some people are less socially acceptable than they are. But I wouldn't say everyone has irrational beliefs. Take me, for instance. My beliefs are beyond reproach, and, at the very least, 99% correct.

Answer 3

In my opinion, we rationalize in order to stop ourselves from being driven insane by guilt, regret, or feelings of inferiority. Some of the most horrible things have been rationalized because some people aren't able to face the reality of certain situations, casting what they have known to be true, a piece of their own personal world, away. However, some people genuinely, genuinely believe in their “irrational” convictions. The BIG problem is that people confuse sincerity with being right. Hell, I could sincerely believe that Barney the Purple Dinosaur is God…but that wouldn’t make me right. Unfortunately, there are people out there who would see the sincerity in my claim, and mistake if for truth.

"People do devastating things out of love and devotion. And if some guy rides a bus and blows himself up and twenty people around him because he loves God so much, it doesn't mean he's wrong or right. You can't just turn your head away from anything that you find repulsive, because in anything that has power, there has to be devotion."
-Billy Corgan

Answer 4

What may seem irrational to you or me may make perfect sense to someone else. A persons opinion of something can be swayed by a number of outside influences, for example these could be cultural, sociological, gender, class, religion... just to name a few. How boring would the world be if we were all the same! As for being narrow minded, well that is just a personality trait.

Answer 5

i see your point. but, i would like to bring up the fact that you trying so hard to convince them of your views is pretty much the same thing you are talking about. who's to say that your beliefs arent seen as irrational by others? just a thought.

Answer 6

Humans are naturally fearful of the unknown. I say this as it relates specifically to religion and death. No one has experienced death thus religions use it as a tool to manipulate to their own benefit. Now I don't mean to completely degrade religion as that is not the topic but I am assuming that you religion is what you are refering to with the question.

My point is that fear is a powerful tool for psychological manipulation and can lead to the inability to accept other beliefs. Also, closed mindedness is a trait that I generally associate with low intelligence. Aristotle once said "It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it."

Answer 7

rationality = thoughts and some people just don't like having the latter. Then there comes questions and the hassle of trying to figure them out. Too much for some I suppose.

Answer 8

Perhaps it is you that has the problem. IF everyone you talk to can't even acknowledge that"it's an interesting point", maybe you need to brush up on your facts and open you mind to other opinions than what yours are.

Answer 9

I figure it is because people with a black and white education know that both Socrates and Jesus talked themselves to death. And they do not want to get caught with their pants down. Let alone the the fact of the matter.

Answer 10

Because of the interruptions of information in the pathways of one neron to another causing the misconception of thought patterns. It's very simple.