According to James, those who preach skepticism as a duty until sufficient evidence for religion is found

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James argues that those who preach skepticism as a duty until sufficient evidence for religion is found do so out of a fear of being in error, rather than a lack of passional nature or a disbelief in anything. He writes, "The man who says "Skepticism is a duty," says, in effect, "I have a conviction that within me, if I were only true to myself, I have a witness against all sorts of propositions which my neighbors think true. They believe in bodily resurrection, in the sacraments, in the propitiatory nature of suffering, and so on. But I cannot. I find no evidence for these things in my experience. Therefore, it is my duty to do as I do, and to doubt, until I find evidence." This seems to imply that the motivation behind preaching skepticism as a duty is a concern about being incorrect.

According to James, Those Who Preach Skepticism as a Duty