Money, religion, politics… Three words with nothing in common. Except the general rule of thumb that has been drilled for life into the heads of youth - If you want friends, you don’t talk about any of those three things. Especially if your beliefs are in the minority.

If you don’t really care about having friends, then feel free to talk about whatever topic comes to mind, but in the case that you want to be liked (or even not hated) by your peers, everyone knows that income level, religious beliefs and political choices should be a restricted subject.

Why are those three simple ideas such a catalyst for arguments?

Simply because of sensitivity. Most people don’t intentionally seek conflict, and when their views are pulled into question in the areas of politics, religion, and money, they tend to get a little aggressive.

And I totally understand. Everyone has the right to get a little defensive when their beliefs are being attacked.

However, I’m not entirely sure that’s the root of the problem.

Why do we get so upset instead of logically explaining our side of the argument?

Maybe it’s because most people honestly don’t understand their own views. Too many people are convinced they are right, but have absolutely no idea why.

It all comes down to the same skill everyone learned in third grade- show, don’t tell.

Most people can tell you “well, of course this is the way it is”, but have no idea how to show, or how to explain it in a logical, well reasoned manner. The reason for this astounding lack of ability to explain their beliefs is that people have no idea what they actually think. They don’t know what they believe.

I’m sure that some people, maybe even the majority, understand and logically address their own beliefs and the beliefs of others- but it sure seems to me like the people who have no idea what they are talking about are a lot louder and more aggressive than the reasonable, collected folks.

Or maybe a lot more numerous.

Anyway, this problem has an easy, and very logical, solution. If people understood what they believed and why they believed it, they would be able to explain it. But the problem lays in how to get there.

One of the most simple ways to cement understanding is to question. Question everything. However, it sadly seems that religion tends to frown on people raising their hands in the sermon and going, “yeah, I know that pride is a sin, but why is it?” I can’t imagine that would go over well with the pastor (or rabbi, or whomever the congressional leader is). So its often up to us to ask ourselves the questions that need asking, and puzzle it out from there. Now, for a lot of people, that’s really quite a challenge.

Questioning is a lifestyle, and if you weren’t raised in it, it’s awfully hard to get into. The solution, however, is simple.

Parents- when your little kid is asking “why” over and over again, don’t tell them to knock it off. Don’t tell them to shut it. Let them ask. Its a good habit to fall into, and never fall out of. If we are able to ask the fundamental questions- why do I believe this? What makes this right? Do I only think this because it is what I was raised to think?- then we are able to begin to answer those questions and come to the root of our beliefs.

Without the ability to question, we either have to accept everything that is told to us as truth, or ignore every new though we are introduced to in an ignorant attempt to pretend that we are secure in what we believe. There is nothing more dangerous than following blindly, not knowing what you are supporting. While this is an issue in all areas, the three biggest are religion, money and politics. And I understand that religion is based off of belief (that’s why it’s called “faith”), but the least you could do is make an attempt to understand why it is important, what it is meant to teach, and what you believe to be literal versus figurative.

In every realm of life, there are questions that must be asked in order for us to understand our beliefs, the core of what makes us who we are.