It has occurred to me that angry opinions and beliefs come from doubt. To explain this I want you to consider what most people’s reactions would be if you argue that there is no water in the oceans. They will think you are strange, but even though they hold the opposing belief that there is water in the oceans, they are not likely to get angry with you.

Why is this so? I suspect it is because they are very sure that there is water in the oceans. You see when we say we believe something or we have an opinion, it is not always the same. There are degrees of strength to belief. You believe you should be honest, for example, but you deny that in practice on occasion, because it is not nearly as certain as your innate belief in the ability of cars to hurt you – thus you do not step into traffic just to see what happens.

Now what about those “lesser” beliefs and opinions? Why are those different? I think it because there is doubt while simultaneously there is a desire to believe. Thus people get angry when you do not confirm their beliefs or outright challenge them. They cannot believe in this “truth” like they believe in water in the ocean, or they would simply accept your disagreement as your problem and leave it at that. There would be no strong need to convince you to change your mind, just as we would not bother to try to change the mind of a believer in dry oceans.

This idea does not say anything about the actual truth or falseness of the beliefs, but it seems that angry opinions come from doubt. I hope that doesn’t anger you. Perhaps I am as crazy as the dry oceaners…

Please keep your angry opinions to yourself, but if you wish to comment below on this theory of mine, feel free.