Be careful about any situation where free discussion is discouraged, where there is a sense of external pressure, where you're pushed into treating something complex as if it were simple. There are times where stubbornness is helpful. I realize that the idea of asking questions can be frightening for some. Even so, it can be an important part of the quest for the truth. If it feels uncomfortable to ask questions, that probably means that more practice is needed.
Curiosity is good, and reference books, encyclopedias, etc.
I think that more confidence in your skills in searching out answers can be very helpful.