Red Sky at Morning
Superstar
- Joined
- Mar 15, 2017
- Messages
- 13,976
Anyone who believes anything about anything at all, that on some level they wish to believe, needs to consider the question of confirmation bias in their thinking.
"Confirmation bias occurs from the direct influence of desire on beliefs. When people would like a certain idea/concept to be true, they end up believing it to be true. They are motivated by wishful thinking. This error leads the individual to stop gathering information when the evidence gathered so far confirms the views (prejudices) one would like to be true.
Once we have formed a view, we embrace information that confirms that view while ignoring, or rejecting, information that casts doubt on it. Confirmation bias suggests that we don’t perceive circumstances objectively. We pick out those bits of data that make us feel good because they confirm our prejudices. Thus, we may become prisoners of our assumptions."
I certainly agree that we should be intellectually honest with our faith. I also believe that if a faith is true, it will stand questions and be stronger for them.
The accusation of confirmation bias is, of course, a criticism fired at believers in God from those who don't... However, for those who do not wish to believe, their confirmation bias will be in the direction of materialism and moral relativism.
I'm only bringing this up as I think it is good intellectual practice the know what you are putting your faith in, and why you are doing so...
"Confirmation bias occurs from the direct influence of desire on beliefs. When people would like a certain idea/concept to be true, they end up believing it to be true. They are motivated by wishful thinking. This error leads the individual to stop gathering information when the evidence gathered so far confirms the views (prejudices) one would like to be true.
Once we have formed a view, we embrace information that confirms that view while ignoring, or rejecting, information that casts doubt on it. Confirmation bias suggests that we don’t perceive circumstances objectively. We pick out those bits of data that make us feel good because they confirm our prejudices. Thus, we may become prisoners of our assumptions."
I certainly agree that we should be intellectually honest with our faith. I also believe that if a faith is true, it will stand questions and be stronger for them.
The accusation of confirmation bias is, of course, a criticism fired at believers in God from those who don't... However, for those who do not wish to believe, their confirmation bias will be in the direction of materialism and moral relativism.
I'm only bringing this up as I think it is good intellectual practice the know what you are putting your faith in, and why you are doing so...
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