If understanding does not provoke belief, then what does? [View All]

[Boojatta]

First we need to distinguish between belief in the correctness of some system of ideas and mere understanding of the system of ideas. No matter how thorough one's understanding may be, if one is not a believer then the element of belief is absent.

How does one's belief in the correctness of some system of ideas help one convert nonbelievers into believers or help one to increase the odds that a believer will continue to believe?

Is the answer that a believer is motivated to find arguments in favor of the beliefs and not motivated to find errors in those arguments? Yet, why should that be the situation? If you actually desire to know the truth, then shouldn't we expect you be interested in knowing whether or not a given argument that you are relying on is faulty?

Are there any propaganda techniques that believers are able to apply and that nonbelievers are unable to apply?