belief systems can keep us safe or keep us from the truth.

Some people say that you should never discuss religion or politics. Why is that? It is not so much because of the personal nature of the topics inso much is that it is because they are a part of the belief system that each of us develops over time.



A belief system is one that is not based on facts but is an identity that is comfortable and may have come from our parents, other family members, friends or community. It is a belief that when questioned makes the person feel uncomfortable because that person may not even know why he or she believes something.



That's just the way it is for them. The world is flat, that's just the way it is many people thought, until over time it was proven that the world is indeed round. Belief systems in religion or politics often come from the views of our parents. If you ask someone why they are of a certain religion or political belief and then you refute each point that they make about why what they believe is wrong; they become angry because you are not refuting facts you are refuting their identity.



Your facts and arguments may be valid; however what the person hears is you calling him stupid for believing something that defines him as a person and that may not be based in facts; but merely upbringing. In cases where religion and politics cross over into one another, the person then feels that he is also morally right in his belief and facts become even less important.



When presented with facts, their belief system will not allow them to logically process those facts at first. It is not until that person is faced with some great personal dilema where his belief system is irrefutably seen for its untruths does that person move towards the truth. In order to get to this point the person must be willing or either forced to question his own belief systems in a very personal and introspective way.



In the course of our daily lives very few people are willing to swim upstream and constantly challenge their own belief systems. When challenged by anyone other than themselves, they will dig in and defend beliefs that may have no or very little basis in the truth.



For more information on Belief Systems and how to argue affectively with someone who is not seeing the truth for what it is, Google Belief Systems and explore.