When that opinion or belief is formed - or rather adopted - in this fashion, perhaps the greatest danger is doing so without questioning it, without subjecting it to scrutiny. Only years after the fact did I realize that all those assignments I did in school and university where I had to "compare and contrast" articles and viewpoints, or to provide references to varying sources in research papers, were not meant to torture me. They were meant to force me to consider alternate opinions, to support but also subject my theses to scrutiny.
Sadly, most people see taking the time to investigate something before accepting it as requiring too much effort. Or perhaps they haven't been taught how to compare and contrast, or how to research alternate opinions on something. Our educational system has certainly become worse in this regard as I compare my substitute teaching experiences with my experiences as a former student. In any case, most people trust that others have done this for them, and that the ideas they present must therefore be valid.
So what's the source of your beliefs? Is it the "latest and greatest" author or speaker who just appeared on the Oprah show? Is it a book like "The God Delusion" or one like "The Case For Christ"? Maybe it's a book that a relative, friend, or colleague just recommended.
In any case, you need to scrutinize what they're telling you instead of simply accepting it. For example, is there any scientific, historical, and/or legal basis to what they're promoting, even from multiple perspectives? How have people fared over a long period who've adopted these ideas and beliefs - the good and the bad stories - not just at the "good times" when they happen to write the book or make the TV appearance? And what of the people who claim to have fared badly: what is their motive in attempting to discredit a particular person or perspective, and does their reasoning stand up to scrutiny and cross-examination?
Most people think that doing things like this is a threat to one's current set of opinions or beliefs. However, if one is very grounded, considering alternate opinions can also be a way of solidifying those beliefs even more.
In any case, simply accepting what you're fed can be dangerous, so make the effort and the time to check things out. Should you do the same with the Bible? Absolutely, whether you're a believer or not! Rather than close their minds off to the message of Christ (the Gospel), the citizens of the Greek city of Berea (or Beroea) who heard this message from the apostle Paul are commended in the book of Acts chapter 17 because
"[they] were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, since they welcomed the message with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so."As an aside, why did they search the Scriptures and not some other non-scriptural body of writings? Isn't this being narrow-minded? Because the things concerning Jesus were foretold in the Jewish scriptures - what we now call the Old Testament - so it was only fitting that the Bereans searched them for explanations about how this Jewish Messiah could also be the savior of non-Jews like them.
God even encourages his people in Isaiah chapter 1 to "Come, let us discuss this" or "Come now, let us reason together." God Himself is in favor of directly being asked the tough questions!
I encourage you to do the same. Whether you're digging through the Bible to interpret the Bible or through extra-biblical accounts to do so, don't just take the Bible on its own merit. Find out for yourself whether it's for real through considering other sources (ones that attempt to be objective) before you assume that it isn't for real just because you're too lazy or don't care. For that matter, you need to do this to any book or belief system that claims to have a new or different truth, whether the Koran, The Book of Mormon, or The Secret.
To not do so can cost you for an eternity.
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