When Everyday Convictions Become Untouchable
The article explains that sacred beliefs are not limited to religion; any belief can become sacred when it is tied to identity and protected from questioning. Motivated reasoning filters out contradictory evidence, making challenges to such beliefs feel like personal threats. It recommends asking what evidence would change one's mind to distinguish a threatened belief from a mistaken one.
Mark Horowitz, writing for Post-Tribal, argues that sacred beliefs extend beyond religion: any conviction can become protected when tied to identity. Motivated reasoning, he says, filters out opposing evidence, so questioning such views can feel like a threat. He suggests asking what evidence would change one's mind.
Horowitz describes his own shift. As a young progressive activist, he worked for unions and community groups and was jailed in Mexico during a workers' strike. Later, he saw his sociological explanations as partly shaped by emotional and identity needs. An anthropology colleague challenged his views on gender, beginning a broader reconsideration.
Count: first para: Mark(1) Horowitz(2), writing(3) for(4) Post-Tribal(5), argues(6) that(7) sacred(8) beliefs(9) extend(10) beyond(11) religion:(12) any(13) conviction(14) can(15) become(16) protected(17) when(18) tied(19) to(20) identity.(21) Motivated(22) reasoning(23), he(24) says(25), filters(26) out(27) opposing(28) evidence(29), so(30) questioning(31) such(32) views(33) can(34) feel(35) like(36) a(37) threat.(38) He(39) suggests(40) asking(41) what(42) evidence(43) would(44) change(45) one's(46) mind.(47) Good.
Second: Horowitz(1) describes(2) his(3) own(4) shift.(5) As(6) a(7) young(8) progressive(9) activist,(10) he(11) worked(12) for(13) unions(14) and(15) community(16) groups(17) and(18) was(19) jailed(20) in(21) Mexico(22) during(23) a(24) workers'(25) strike.(26) Later,(27) he(28) saw(29) his(30) sociologi