Here’s a question to ponder: How many of the positions that you subscribe to today related to theology, economics, politics, etc., do you subscribe to because you researched the competing perspectives, weighed the merits and demerits of each, and then adopted the best position? If you are a typical human being, chances are that the number is very small. Most of the positions we subscribe to we simply inherit from our family or community, unquestioned. When we do question those positions, we often seek out evidence to shore up what we already believe rather than seeking evidence both for and against our position. Given this proclivity of human nature, and given the multiplicity of positions, there’s a high probability that we are mistaken in a number of positions we subscribe to. After all, it would be highly unlikely that one just happened to be born into a family/community who just so happened to subscribe to all of the right positions in theology, politics, economics, and the like.
This isn’t to say that we should be skeptical of everything. Rather, it’s to say that we should be less dogmatic on issues for which we have not examined the arguments for and against various positions. We should be more willing to challenge our own positions/assumptions, and be open to consider the merits of other perspectives. Our positions may or may not change through the process, but at the very least, we can better appreciate the weaknesses in our own position and the strengths of others. Remember, truth is our goal, not defending whatever positions we may have inherited.
Thinking to Believe 
December 26, 2019 at 10:54 am
Jason asks:
My answer: ALL of them!
When I was in jr. high school, I began to wonder why people believe the things they do. I wanted to know where their beliefs originated and what their strongest arguments are in support of their beliefs. I also began to question everything I believed and wondered what my strongest arguments are. As a result, my beliefs were radically transformed.
I noticed something else along the line. There were others who allegedly sought answers to similar questions and ended up throwing everything or nearly everything away that they had been taught, and it wasn’t because they found better arguments. I know that because they never bothered to seek out the best arguments against their views (a chain is only as strong as its weakest link). They rather sought arguments that confirmed what they wanted to believe and resented it when they were confronted with logically strong objections. I’ve seen this happen time and again with Pentecostal young people and even among minister friends who at one time appeared to fervently believe the Apostolic message.
I interacted with a backslidden Pentecostal girl who said that her pursuit of truth led her out of the Apostolic faith and that she would never return. Of course she was lying because if you’re really pursuing truth, you will go wherever it leads you, even if it leads you back to the place you left. Her real problem was with holiness standards, and since she didn’t like them, she decided to embark on a “search for truth.” Of course, she never sought out the best arguments in favor of separation from the world with respect to dress; she rather filled her mind with arguments gleaned from those who condemn us as legalists.
The bottom line is motive. Do you really want the truth or are you looking for bias confirmation? You can tell the difference a mile away. The latter group criticizes views they’ve never really studied. They’ve heard caricatures of the beliefs they abjure and parrot them as if they actually studied what they criticize. They issue opinions without seeking analysis from those who disagree with them for the obvious reason that they don’t care what the opposing view is; they’re simply right. On the other hand, they may engage in a lot of study, but it’s always results-oriented. They cook their conclusion and proclaim, “Quod erat demonstrandum. Since the heart is deceitful above all things, it’s easy to think that you’ve proved the conclusion you were looking for. Not very impressive in any objective playbook.
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
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December 26, 2019 at 1:11 pm
the important ones
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December 26, 2019 at 4:12 pm
I find the best way to properly challenge your own beliefs and avoid confirmation bias is to use the same process used by all good scientists. That is, do your best to debunk your own claims. Try to identify any testable predictions your claim makes, then test those predictions in an attempt to prove them false. If you can prove those claims false, either modify those claims to fit the evidence, or jettison them if they can’t be modified. If the evidence ends up supporting your claims, you are justified in having increased confidence in your claims. The worst thing one can do is ignore evidence that contradicts a claim.
But one thing to keep in mind is that no explanation should ever be considered 100% proven correct; one must always be aware that the next piece of evidence that comes along may contradict a claim or suggest an improvement.
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January 2, 2020 at 11:21 am
Not everybody is going to spend the time to dissect their beliefs as many of us do who subscribe to this blog simply because they don’t have the intellectual disposition or education for that matter. So where does that leave them ?
I think a lot of these things are background noise frankly. While I always like a good discussion on theological issues, in the end all that matters is if you placed your faith in Jesus for your salvation. Our positions on all the theological issues won’t matter and we are not going to be graded on whether we got them all correct or not like some sort of test.
While I am aware that theological error can lead one astray, it still has to be a pretty big error to lead you from denying Jesus Christ. There are some on this blog that still do not believe in Jesus Christ, I would say that is a game changer with regards to their eternal destiny. On the other hand, whether or not I agree that a woman should wear a skirt or pants is part of a different conversation.
We all have personal bias and we all believe what we believe is 100% true and correct or we would not believe it. There is no getting around that. In the end some of us will be right on some points and some of us will be wrong on some points and visa-versa.
I think the most important thing as a believer is that we continue to grow in the “grace and knowledge” of our Lord Jesus Christ. I put that in quotes because I think that is key to really understanding who God is. We need to grow in that grace. Paul called it the “Gospel of Grace”.
I spent the better part of 10 years in a legalistic system that thought they had it all figured out like a math problem. I have since come to the realization that they were wrong on many points, not because it became inconvenient, but because I experienced true spiritual growth.
Naz
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January 6, 2020 at 1:24 pm
I think and believe that it is truly important to have our own opinions about those important things that we try to come to understand and appreciate. Yet, just what does it mean to “understand” and/or “appreciate???” Does it mean that we have examined our opinions to the fullest; therefore, we have come to an “understanding” of just what validity our opinions have measured up to? Or does it mean that our investigations/research have brought us further to an “understanding;” Therefore, we can now “appreciate” the fact that our opinions measure up to some sort of “understanding.”
It’s a very complicated situation, i.e. one’s own opinions about major issues that rely on factual information…yet, where does this factual information come from…must we question that to some degree? I think the answer would be definitely YES!!!
If we choose to debate, discuss, or enter into some sort of dialogue about major/important issues, I believe that we need to Know something about how our facts are related to our opinions. Opinions simply remain opinions w/o factual content.
I could go no ad infinitum Re: this topic, but what would be the point???
Joe P.
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