(Interlaken, Switzerland)

When I was younger, I was so much surer that I knew the answer for everything. I took my beliefs for granted. Now, there are many things for which I do not have an opinion as I realized that I have no clear reason to believe things one way or another. I have become an agnostic on most issues. This comes from realizing that most of our beliefs or opinions are based not on logic or evidence - even though we strongly believe otherwise. Instead, most of our beliefs are instinctive responses that are drilled into us as we grow up from a variety of sources.

As an example, over the summer, the US media reported that two US journalists were detained by North Korea. Initial news reports claimed that they were abducted on the Chinese side of the border and I believed the media. After travelling the length of the North Korea-China border over the summer, I realized that it would be incredibly difficult for North Koreans to drag people across the river, much less two ladies accompanied by two guys. Furthermore, for the North Koreans to be able to sneak across the river unseen by the journalists would be even more absurd. After they were released, the journalists confessed that they had crossed into North Korea.

Why did I believe the US media initially? It was definitely not logic or clear-headed analysis. Rather, it is an instinctive response based on biases accumulated over the years that makes me lean towards one viewpoint or another without relying on any evidence or reasoning. The same logic applies to so many other things in which I believe in. That is why I am such an agnostic these days.