Growth comes from discovering new facts and insights. This means challenging inherited thinking, which often leads to outgrowing traditional beliefs. Many people are afraid to do this because it means leaving behind or changing customs and relationships. See why it is healthy for continued development.
The dominant cultural influence in the world is Western organized religion. Because it has been an accepted part of our worldview, it has become invisible. We do not see the flaws and contradictions. We accept these belief systems as legitimate frameworks. Inherited thinking is protected not only by cultural norms but also by law.
We suggest that traditions only serve a legitimate purpose when they are built on facts and promote healthy, inclusive values. The only way to find out if a system is worthy is to question and analyze it. That is the purpose here
Inner Work Gate Notice:
It examines inherited thinking, beliefs, ideological conditioning, emotional attachment to identity structures, and the psychological mechanisms that resist change. Some discomfort may occur as long-held assumptions, cultural programming, and worldview attachments are questioned or reevaluated. This article is intended for conscious self-examination, critical reflection, and intentional psychological change.
Outgrowing traditional beliefs
Challenging inherited thinking refers to questioning ideological patterns that are passed down from parents and supported by the culture. There is nothing wrong with honoring heritage that affirms positive traits. But traditions that promote unhealthy biases and prejudices should be challenged.
Challenging inherited thinking simply means learning to question what you’ve been taught, even if it feels uncomfortable. It means examining your beliefs with fresh eyes, questioning whether they still hold true, and remaining open to new ideas. It also takes time because changing how you think about life, truth, or yourself doesn’t happen all at once. Outgrowing old beliefs takes curiosity, freedom of thought, and courage.
Beliefs are ideas or thoughts that a person accepts as true, often without any proof. The term “traditional beliefs and faith” refers to the doctrines of Western religion, or the Abrahamic religions. This tree has three main branches: Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.
Because they are the most widely accepted beliefs, we will explore how these religions explain and justify their doctrines. We will focus on how they handle the issue of evil. We can learn a great deal from investigating these systems because they are the building blocks of these religions.
The problem of evil: challenging inherited thinking
People have been questioning and subsequently outgrowing traditional beliefs and faith for years. One of the most frequently asked questions is, “Why is there evil in the world?” Different religions offer different answers, but they all attempt to explain why bad things happen and what we should do about them.
Spirituality is connected to evil with overlapping concepts about suffering, morality, meaning, and transformation. We recognize that evil manifests in selfish, cruel, and violent actions. Recognizing these connections takes us down the path to challenging inherited thinking.
Whether we view evil as a force, a choice, or a misunderstanding, we must confront it. Most spiritual paths teach people to confront evil, not just in the world, but also within themselves. They say we all have choices, and choosing kindness, honesty, and love helps us grow spiritually.
In one way, the concept of evil inspires challenging inherited thinking. This is because inherited thinking is often the roadblock to spiritual and intellectual growth. It shows us the difference between right and wrong and pushes us to live with more awareness, compassion, and courage. Without evil, we might never think about what is truly good.
Eastern and Western religions explain evil differently:
| Religion or tradition | Explanation of evil |
|---|---|
| Hinduism | Hinduism explains evil through the concept of karma. Karma means that every action has a result through cause and effect. |
| Buddhism | Buddhism suggests that suffering and evil arise from attachment to things, anger, and a lack of understanding of life. |
| Taoism | Taoism teaches that evil occurs when people live out of balance with nature and the flow of life, known as the Tao. |
| Zoroastrianism | In Zoroastrianism, a battle between good and evil is a central theme. The good god, Ahura Mazda, fights against the evil spirit, Angra Mainyu. This dualistic struggle heavily influenced later Western religious thought. |
| Christianity | In Christianity, evil began when the first humans, Adam and Eve, disobeyed God. Their actions introduced sin and suffering into the world. |
| Islam | Islam teaches that life is a test from God (Allah). Evil and hardship are part of that test. Islam also says a being called Iblis attempts to lead people away from God, though individuals still have the choice to do good. |
| Judaism | Judaism teaches that evil originates within us. Human beings have impulses toward both good and evil, and it is our responsibility to choose the good. |
How to create a belief system
The Abrahamic religions are not original creations; they are a combination of the mystery religions. These are the cults from ancient Assyria, Babylon, Egypt, and Persia. Here is where Western theology derives its doctrines, including concepts such as God, good, and evil.
The universal religion of Christianity was established to monetize the inherited thinking of these cults. These older religions had loyal followers who provided ongoing offerings. By keeping them intact and rebranding them, they maintained this base of income. This solution was more cost-effective than maintaining a Roman army in these regions. People brought in money and were willing to produce. This was far cheaper than maintaining an army over such a large region.
Demonizing and persecuting competing ideologies while assimilating their beliefs is their overriding strategy. Take terms like magic and “the craft,” for instance. These rituals are appropriated and rebranded simultaneously, demonizing the sources.
This allowed older traditions to be absorbed while authority remained centralized.
Attributes of a supreme being
Here are the seven essential attributes of a Supreme Being in Western theology:
- There is only One Higher Power, God, Creator of the Universe.
- Eternal existence. No beginning and no end; existence outside time.
- Self-existence. Self-sufficient, independent, and without external cause.
- Omnipotence. Possessing unlimited power and authority.
- Omnipresence. Being present everywhere simultaneously.
- Omniscience. Complete knowledge of all things and events.
- Immutability. Being unchangeable and incapable of corruption.
- Perfection. Existing without flaw, contradiction, or defect.
These characteristics create major logical problems once evil and the Devil are introduced into the system. Why? Because the concept of evil is the cornerstone of mitigated dualism. So, challenging inherited thinking related to evil and mitigated dualism are discouraged.
Mitigated dualism, the Devil, and logical contradictions
Dualism is the concept of two opposites that balance each other, such as day and night, or yin and yang. But this is not the situation with the Abrahamic traditions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
The Abrahamic tree uses mitigated dualism, in which one of the two forces is greater than the other, yet they still need each other to exist. This is the situation with good and evil. This is often where challenging inherited thinking begins because it reveals the first major contradiction of the One god system.
Two god system implied
Here’s where the major contradictions begin with the attributes of the supreme being. In practice, Western theology contains two central powers:
- The supreme good force represented by God.
- The opposing evil force represented by Satan or the Devil.
The Devil is portrayed with many god-like qualities:
- The ability to understand human thoughts and weaknesses.
- The ability to influence people across the world.
- The power to tempt, deceive, corrupt, and manipulate.
- Eternal existence.
- Authority over Hell and punishment.
- The ability to oppose the plans of God.
The Church uses this to explain the various figures who lived before Jesus in the New Testament. All of these avatars mirror the life of Jesus from his virgin birth to his crucifixion and resurrection. So, theologians say these were the preconceived forgeries of the Devil. That means the Devil is omniscient.
Additionally, Satan is often blamed for evil happening all over the world at the same time, as if he is everywhere at once. The Devil could not be killed or converted by God; thus, he is self-existent and eternal like the primary God. Satan is often described as ruling hell for all eternity, punishing souls endlessly, suggesting he never dies or fades.
The contradictions become even more obvious when examined literally and directly.
Who asks these kinds of questions? Children. This is why Sunday School teachers are often the most likely to leave the Church. Children pose logical questions that expose the contradictions. It shows how challenging inherited thinking inspires critical thinking.
The Epicurus theorem
Epicurus provides us with the classical theorem about challenging inherited thinking.
Why would an all-knowing Supreme Being create an adversary in the first place? The decision to create an evil adversary undermines the principle of being perfect. God should have known what was going to happen.
If the Supreme Being created the lesser God, knowing it would rebel, he could have corrected it. Why did he not forgive, save, or convince the lesser God to repent and return?
How do you reconcile the coexistence of two gods? You have a god with the attributes of omniscience and omnipresence, which should make them all-powerful. Yet we also have an evil adversary with equally, or nearly equal, god-like qualities. Why doesn’t the Good God defeat or convert the lesser God?
Is God willing to prevent evil but not able? Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able but not willing? Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God? — Epicurus
Learning to live with the problem of evil is difficult. It brings all these kinds of issues to the surface. This dilemma poses a significant dilemma for the average follower.
Why would God, who can see the future, create such an opponent? Why would a God who is all-powerful fail to deal with the Devil? And, if God can’t fix this obvious problem, what about all the other things he’s supposed to do? What about that afterlife he promised? These questions are the beginning of challenging inherited thinking and outgrowing traditional beliefs.
Misuse of free will is another argument. Here, evil is your fault. It comes from a misuse of free will. That means God gives us free will but also makes us imperfect, so we are prone to making mistakes in judgment. So then, he punishes you if you don’t make the right decision. Why doesn’t the omniscient Being prevent this from happening since he knows the future? God sets up a game we cannot win and punishes us when we fail because we cannot know God’s mind.
How the Abrahamic religions handle these issues
Outgrowing traditional beliefs and faith is forbidden. One way they address these issues is by discouraging doubts about religious authority. They say faith means believing without question.
Doubt is weakness, disobedience, or sin.
Followers learn that sacred texts or leaders have absolute truth. Personal doubts may feel dangerous or disrespectful. It creates pressure to accept beliefs as they are, rather than to explore them.
Arguments about evil and spirituality are not meant to be questioned. You aren’t smart enough to understand. A common argument in Western theology is that ordinary people can’t grasp God’s reasoning.
Only the clergy, selected by God, understand it, even though they cannot articulate it. They can’t explain it because the reasons are illogical and don’t make sense. Or, simply put, we can’t explain it, so you are too stupid to understand. So I won’t try to explain.
Leveraging circular logic
The above excuse is a good example of circular logic. The general form of circular logic is “A is true because A is true” or “A is true because B is true, and B is true because A is true.”
Circular reasoning also appears frequently:
- The Bible is true because it is the word of God.
- God exists because the Bible says so.
This structure protects the system from scrutiny because the claim becomes its own evidence.
Evil as an agent for God is another popular argument. Evil beings supposedly exist to execute the Supreme Being’s judgment. God’s judgment is a “tough love” process. But the Supreme Being doesn’t want to do all the dirty work. So, it delegates the authority to the evil entity, thus keeping his hands morally free of evil deeds. In this way, they can portray the Supreme Being as a loving God because they attribute the evil deeds to someone else.
When God gives the power to execute judgment, he delegates authority to the Devil. The concept of delegation undermines the assertion that “God is love.” Hiring an agent to perpetrate evil acts on your behalf is a conspiracy to commit a crime.
How evil creates an opportunity
The creation of evil and the Devil produced a powerful institutional opportunity. If evil, sin, Hell, and eternal punishment exist, then believers require protection and salvation from the same system defining those dangers. The religious structure becomes both the source of the diagnosis and the exclusive provider of the cure.
This creates dependency:
- The religion defines evil.
- The religion defines sin.
- The religion defines punishment.
- The religion controls salvation.
The concept of original sin intensifies this dependency by teaching that people are born spiritually flawed and require intervention to achieve redemption.
Fear becomes the enforcement mechanism:
- Fear of Hell.
- Fear of divine punishment.
- Fear of demonic influence.
- Fear of questioning doctrine.
- Fear of losing salvation.
At the same time, religious systems require financial support, obedience, and social conformity. Historically, this included indulgences, offerings, mandatory contributions, and systems of atonement tied directly to institutional authority. Challenging inherited thinking is forbidden. Those who dare to question outdated traditional beliefs suffer severe consequences.
The structure operates through a classic carrot-and-stick model:
- Obedience promises salvation, protection, and eternal reward.
- Disobedience threatens punishment, suffering, and eternal damnation.
The concept of evil, therefore, becomes not only a theological necessity but also a mechanism of social, psychological, and institutional control.
These mechanisms also generate income by exploiting the fear of the unknown. It’s an exchange for money that entitles you to the rewards of the Afterlife.
You see, God loves, and there is eternal life in heaven for those who believe. But, just in case you decide not to become an acolyte, there is also a Hell to suffer torture for eternity. It is a classic example of the carrot-and-stick approach. You get the carrot if you believe and pay your way. Otherwise, you get the eternal “stick.”
Eternal suffering awaits anyone who questions God’s infinite love. — Bill Hicks
The influence of inherited thinking extends far beyond religion itself. These patterns of unquestioned belief often shape science, politics, morality, and social values.
Challenging inherited thinking patterns
Many worldviews today lack a foundation in proven science and logic. Some are based on outright prejudiced and biased ideologies. They undermine critical thinking.
Theism and Deism. The belief in God tops the list of illogical ideologies that are widely accepted. They use mitigated dualism to justify the belief in an imaginary friend. This inconsistent ideological viewpoint tops our list.
But remember, challenging inherited thinking about God can be dangerous. Believers protect their God with violence.
Creationism. Some people still believe in the biblical story of creation. They likewise reject the scientific theory of evolution.
Racism. Is a inhertied thinking pattern that asserts that one race is superior to another race. This assertion has been proven to be false. Yet, some still hold onto this destructive and divisive worldview.
Climate change denial. Despite the scientific evidence, some people still deny it. They want the problem to go away. Since they don’t understand the science behind it, they reject it. They can’t believe that climate change is occurring or that humans are contributing to it.
The Flat-Earth worldview. The Earth is not flat. Science has proven the Earth is a sphere. Although less prominent than theism, the Flat Earth theory remains a significant obstacle to society.
Young Earth Theory. Some believe the Earth is only a few thousand years old. Scientific evidence has widely disproven this; yet some individuals and religious groups still hold on to it.
Women are the inferior gender. The belief that women are subordinate to the male gender is a backward worldview. Believing women should be relegated to the kitchen or domestic duties is a thing of the past. This kind of belief system is outdated and detrimental to society as a whole. Challenging inherited thinking is the foundation for improving society.
Interracial relationships are wrong. The belief that people of different races shouldn’t be together is a form of bigotry. It is the cornerstone of racism. People of all races should be free to love and be loved by whomever they choose, regardless of skin color.
Homophobia. The belief that being homosexual or bisexual is immoral has been debunked numerous times. It’s a form of inherited thinking that has a basis in fear and bias. However, there are still individuals and groups who hold onto the idea that it is abnormal or sinful.
These beliefs are borne out of the opinion that non-heterosexual orientations are deviant. It has been debunked and disproven countless times, yet it persists in many parts of the world. Sexual orientation is a natural part of who we are and should be respected and accepted by all.
Anti-Science and Anti-Vaccination. One of the most dangerous forms of inherited thinking is the rejection of science. Some deny the evidence of the safety and effectiveness of vaccines. Some still refuse to vaccinate children, which places them at risk. We are seeing the recurrence of previously eradicated viruses. They are a health risk to everyone. They prefer to believe conspiracy theories spun by talk shows and greedy celebrities rather than those based on science.
When you explore these issues with critical thinking and evidence, you often end up challenging inherited thinking.
Conclusion
Challenging inherited thinking becomes a welcome routine once you learn that the outcome is likely positive. Outgrowing traditional beliefs doesn’t mean you forget them; it means you are no longer bound to them. This is healthy.
Exploring the problem of evil and its relationship to spirituality offers valuable examples. It helps us understand our own beliefs and the narratives in our modern culture. It helps us to deal with those who hold firmly to their brand of theism. It takes us a step closer to challenging inherited thinking that we may hold.
As we embrace a global perspective, we must examine ourselves and ask if what we believe is true. Outgrowing old beliefs should be something we welcome rather than hide from. It is time to adopt a worldview that can evolve as we learn and grow.
References
- The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark, Carl Sagan.
- Why I Am Not a Christian, Bertrand Russell.
- The God Delusion, Richard Dawkins.
- Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon, Daniel C. Dennett.
- The Believing Brain: From Ghosts and Gods to Politics and Conspiracies, Michael Shermer.
- Why People Believe Weird Things, Michael Shermer.
- The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion, Jonathan Haidt.
- A Theory of Cognitive Dissonance, Leon Festinger.
- Thinking, Fast and Slow, Daniel Kahneman.
- The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, Thomas S. Kuhn.
- The Republic, Plato.
- An Inquiry Concerning Human Understanding, David Hume.
- The Problem of Evil, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
- Dualism, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
- Cognitive Bias and Belief Formation, National Institutes of Health.
- Groupthink and Social Conformity, National Library of Medicine.
- Religious Belief and Psychological Processes, National Institute of Mental Health.
- Scientific Method, National Academy of Sciences.
- Epicurus, Wikipedia.
- Circular Reasoning, Wikipedia.