VIRB

I have been hearing a lot of what seems like backwards mentality to me lately, like, "I am a Christian therefore I believe in..." instead of "I believe in...therefore I am a Christian." or, "I am an atheist; therefore I do not believe that a god exists." Instead of, "I don't believe that god exists, therefore I am an atheist."

As soon as you slap a title down before your belief or non-belief, you are putting yourself in a uncompromising restrictive position where you look for things to believe in or not to believe in to support the title. This mentality more often then not misdirects one away from the very truth that one is seeking. This backwards mentality often creates confirmation bias, ignores convincing opposing evidence, and simply makes one less reasonable. Have you every tried conversing with someone of this type of mindset? They are often narrow, unmoving, and restrict themselves to the boundaries of a title rather then evidence.
Want a fresh start? Here are five tips to avoid this mentality:

1. Do not let titles dictate your beliefs. Optimally, remove all labels and titles from yourself.
2. Reexamine your beliefs and discard those beliefs you've acquired because of a title placement.
3. Do not let your personal preferences, desires, craving for control, and hopes interfere with where the evidence takes you.
4. Follow the evidence where ever it may lead you, without expectations.
5. Accept that new evidences could and might present themselves again that will lead you elsewhere from where you are now.