How many questions do I not have the answer to? Many, many, many.
In fact, people who claim to have all the answers are scary to me. Let’s just have the humility to admit that while one of the tasks in life is to understand what it is all about and to search for the meaning of existence there will always be the unknowable and ineffable. The problem with any rigid belief system is that it causes us to discount new information and experiences which might conflict with it. We invest ourselves in that belief system. We identify ourselves with that belief system. And if anything contradicts it, at least for some people, that feels like a threat to sense of self.
Look at the belief system of White Supremacy. I am always blown away by how, in spite of all evidence to the contrary, racially bigoted people of all stripes persist in their biased viewpoints. I call it willful ignorance. There is no use arguing with such people. If you argue until you are blue in the face their ultimate answer is “well that’s just what I believe, and I have a right to believe it!” Yes, you do. But if it harms other people we have a right to institute laws to protect the rights of everyone else against the folly of your bigotry.
That said, it dismays me when someone states their opinion as JustmeAman did above and even though they are just answering the question and not cramming their belief system down everyone’s throats, there seems to always be someone in the crowd who has to “call” then on it. As if they had said, “I believe this and you all are stupid or evil to not believe it too!” Then they get into a debate about how can you say that if you can’t prove it? I can understand it when the person has said something flagrantly offensive or when they are proselytizing , Otherwise, it’s not really fair nor is is in the spirit of what this OP in particular has asked.
Ultimately, as far as my own belief system goes my biggest problem would be that I tend to see lots of gray. I am very wary of people who see eerything in black and white. I am very wary of simple answers. But that doesn’t mean I don’t have any beliefs or convictions. I just try to have an open mind at all times. I am human, so I don’t always succeed…So the problem with my belief system is the struggle to live and let live and yet reconcile that to making the world a better place by fighting injustice and bigotry. And how can you do the one without impinging on someones right to live as they choose? Where do you draw the line?
A good example of this issue is when you run up against cultural differences. There is a movie coming out soon (already premiered in Europe) called Desert Flower. It’s based on the true story of a young girl from an African nomadic tribe who ran away from an arranged marriage. Her name is Waris Dirie and she ultimately got to England and became a supermodel. She was subjected to FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) as a child. Her story of survival is incredible. As I read it I became so angry about this cultural practice. One of Waris’ sisters actually died from the procedure. Even if done in a doctor’s office it is brutal and barbaric. That’s my opinion and if you read more about it most people will come to the same conclusion. Waris has become a spokewoman in the fight to end this practice. (If you are interested check her website) FGM is NOT the female version of circumcision. Anyway, sorry if I go on too long. I am just trying to illustrate a point. In general I like to accept cultural differences. There are some who accept this and say we can’t force people to live by our code of conduct, our laws, and our beliefs. They are free to choose. Normally I would agree with them.But Waris and other girls like her are not free to choose. It is forced on them against their will because culturally the mothers are afraid their daughters will not be marriagable if they do not have the procedure. When these cultures make their way to the United States they don’t always assimilate and change. They continue in a practice that I can only categorize as child abuse.
I don’t want to impose my belief system on anyone else, but if there is a moral imperative as in this case it becomes necessary to take a stand.
The ability to shift your belief system based on new information can get you the label wishy-washy or in politics, flip-flopper. I don’t know how you would diffentiate between a politician who sincerely believed in somethin but changed their mind and one who just took a different stand because it was politically expedient to do so. I suppose you would have to go by the actions they take vs just the words coming from their mouths.
Did I answer your question? I’m not sure, lol.