great post! Indeed, truth seeking is (or should be) a discipline, and a very exacting one. Self indulging has no part in it, and I heartily commend the spirit of self-enquire you suggest:

why do I want to believe such and such? where did I get this desire from?

I part ways with you only on one point: if you do ask yourself those great questions, you may find desires that are not traceable to indoctrination or self-delusion. Notice I say -you may find-, it is just a possibility. The presence of those desires (assuming they are there in the first place) is certainly not a measure of the reality of their goals, of course.

But it may be a very good topic to ponder on.

Best Wishes

PMac