It worries me when I hear friends or family recount times they shied away from talking to a particular person or reading a particular book because the values the person or book espoused were from a non-Christian background. I have heard this excused as avoiding temptation, but isn't temptation supposed to be tempting? In other words is the person who is "avoiding temptation" saying that the other person's point of view is better? If their life is not as beneficial, it wouldn't be tempting, would it?
But it's not avoiding temptation. It shows a lack of faith and trust. Maybe to some degree this is a lack of faith in God, but more than likely it is a lack of trust in oneself. Do you really believe in what you believe? If so, why can't you hear a differing view be it Islam, Athiesm, or something else? Do you not believe that your beliefs are correct and can hold up to criticism? Do you not feel your position has more value that others? If not, you shouldn't have it.
The only reason you should believe what you believe is because it's the best of all possible options. Is your faith the best that is out there? Do you believe in a powerful God or a weak one? Can your God stand up to criticism? If not, you may need to re-evaluate your understanding of God.
Good points. When you have invested so much of yourself into a belief system, it is a frightening thing to imagine you have chosen unwisely. Avoiding alternate viewpoints isn't shielding yourself from temptation, its insulating yourself from your own doubts.
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