Why people afraid to ask questions about their beliefs?

[PETE_ROSE]

To answer your question though, many people hold on to their faith or beliefs because it is how they define themselves.

It's not merely a matter of truth. When your identity is being challenged it is a much different animal than finding out zebras are black with white stripes instead of white with black white ones.
I know several atheists that even if they were presented with overwhelming evidence and regarded it as the truth, would not convert and subscribe to Christianity based on other objections (reasons vary).
It's not merely a matter of whether you believe something to be true or not.

[PETE_ROSE]

I noticed in your introduction that we are both big fans of Christopher Hitchens. It was truly something to watch his debates, whether they were on theism or any other matter. I especially enjoyed his debate with his devoutly Christian brother, Peter. His debate with George Galloway back in 2005 on the war in Iraq was epic.

[robvalue]

A lot of people convince themselves that they are in fact questioning their beliefs, but all they are really doing is seeking out sources/people that agree with them. Everything else is discarded.

Questioning beliefs can be uncomfortable, especially ones which you have put a lot of stock in. The longer you've been proudly professing a belief, and using it to justify your behaviour, the harder it is to consider announcing that you've been wrong for all that time. It's always easier to paint over one more crack than to knock the house down and start again.

[PETE_ROSE]

Exactly Rob. Well stated and just what I wanted to say myself.
A lot of of what you said going around.

[robvalue]

Thank you

I've been just as guilty of it as anyone else at times.

[Excited Penguin]

Hi guys,

Since i becommed atheist, i also began think more critically (more or less ).But why people don't ask questions about their beliefs (not only religious beliefs).I read in one philosophy book that questioning your beliefs is best way to see if they are worth believing in.So what do you guys think, why people don't question on what they hold so dearly, is because of fear, ignorance, or something else ?

Thanks for your answers

Did you happen to read Bertrand Russell by any chance? Just a shot in the dark on my part, really.

[Seraphina]

Hi guys,

Since i becommed atheist, i also began think more critically (more or less ).But why people don't ask questions about their beliefs (not only religious beliefs).I read in one philosophy book that questioning your beliefs is best way to see if they are worth believing in.So what do you guys think, why people don't question on what they hold so dearly, is because of fear, ignorance, or something else ?

Thanks for your answers

For some, questioning (publicly) one's beliefs leads to being labeled an apostate and then killed. If this were a real danger for me, I would think twice before questioning things.

[robvalue]

Sometimes questioning itself can be discouraged, and even seen as a bad thing and a "lack of faith" in whatever establishment is behind the beliefs. This might squash the curiosity of a lot of people.

[Angrboda]

People can be questioning and still avoid the center. We compartmentalize things so that we don't notice the blindspots.

[Homeless Nutter]

Hi guys,

Since i becommed atheist, i also began think more critically (more or less ).But why people don't ask questions about their beliefs (not only religious beliefs).I read in one philosophy book that questioning your beliefs is best way to see if they are worth believing in.So what do you guys think, why people don't question on what they hold so dearly, is because of fear, ignorance, or something else ?[...]

Same reason why fat people don't like to weigh themselves and junkies avoid AIDS tests, or reflection upon their heroin problem. Being deluded feels nice, questioning oneself causes anxiety. Humans are creatures of convenience and comfort - truth and logic are an afterthought for most of us.