When Your Beliefs Are Challenged, How Do You React? (page 3)

bluebell

not great, I'm a bit rubbish in arguments! Have never learnt to fight my ground. I go um er um er and then agree with whoever is arguing with me even if I disagree!

After having been so deceived by this religion, I have revised my belief system. I am much more open-minded and understanding towards people, as long as their belief system is not harmful to anybody else.

I have come to understand that everybody is entitled to an opinion, no matter how wrong it is.

LHG

daystar

My "beliefs" now are nowhere near as concrete as they were when I was a JW in my teens. The reason for this is that I see that beliefs are not truths, and while they do form a backdrop for how I perceive things, I know, again, that they are not truth, and should be flexible to allow for modification should new information be provided to me with enough "oomph!" or "AHA!".

So, I think I react very well to challenges to my beliefs generally. I try to challenge them myself! That is not to say I don't find myself on occasion falling into old habits, but I try to keep it in check.

I may be made of my beliefs, but just as they are subject to change, so am I. All is change, all is in motion, always. The universe is change.

Finally-Free

When Your Beliefs Are Challenged, How Do You React?

When I was a JW I perceived any challenge of my beliefs as a personal attack. Now I question a person's right to challenge my beliefs. As long as I refrain from spouting my opinions to others, and my beliefs have no consequences to others, I don't feel the need to explain myself to anyone.

W

Brigid

I am now free from an agenda--no one need share my "beliefs" to support my fragile, egoic schema. I do not believe in ultimate truth (facts, yes...but even those change with growing scientific discoveries) but Truth? No. So I don't really have any reaction to someone disputing my "beliefs" (such as they are).

I marvel at the sea of ideas and philosophies, especially when it comes to explaining human existence and experience of the Divine (or lack thereof in some people's schema).

~B.

The wanderer

Dear Daystar & Brigid:

Thank you for your commentary regarding
this subject.

All the best to the both of you.

Respectfully,

Richard

Wordly Andre

I sometime turn it around on them, ask them to prove that there is a god, you can't see him, you can't hear him, everything that you know came from man? well then when they say well I just believe in my heart, then I tell them well thats how I feel about my beliefs, and you can't change my heart. usually ends the converstation