Words can be used in interesting ways. For instance, it is common to call those who don't agree with us either stubborn or narrow minded, and those who agree with a certain point that is agreed upon, open minded and intelligent.
Anyone who belongs to another group, be it in politics or religion or some other philosophical school, is often viewed from the observation of the worst in the group disagreeing with us.
Conversely, we tend to judge our own tribe by what is best, often downplaying or overlooking what is unsavory, for it reflects back on the whole group.
I do it all the time, seems very difficult to overcome, or perhaps it is just one of those life long endeavors that most of us seem to be involved in. We can make others the trash receptacle of our own shadows, thereby freeing ourselves of the bother of inner reflection and growth.
Do you tend to judge those who disagree with you more than those who agree with you? Do you think that helps you or hinders you as you grow and learn? How can we be people who see others, regardless of their beliefs, as they are?
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Comments (8)
This phenomenon is called bias. And it's hard wired into the brain. It takes lots of the right kind of training and education to get a grip on our bias.
Nowadays the school systems and universities are teaching that bias is good under the euphemism, "Speak your own truth."
The Church saved civilization and prepared Europe for the scientific revolution of the Renaissance by systematically teaching the best and brightest 4 years of math and physics as a prerequisite for theology training.
By teaching bias as truth, our education system is systematically destroying our civil society by making incoherent thinking (foolishness) the end product of a "good education."
@PrisonerxOfxLove@xanga -
You bring up some good points my friend, not sure which way we are heading, but it does look too good at this time. Thanks for you thoughful comment.
Peace
mark
What if you disagree with yourself?
@FattiesGonnaFat@xanga -
That is called inner conflict
. St. Paul deals with that, as well as many writiers in literature.....
Peace
mark
@markdohle - Minnesota?
@FattiesGonnaFat@xanga -
Georgia, very hot here, feels like 106F.
Peace
mark
@PrisonerxOfxLove@xanga -
"The Church saved civilization and prepared Europe for the scientific revolution of the Renaissance"The church's philistine god-fearing perpetuated the dark ages in the first place. Your Victorian white-washed version of history isn't a modernly scholarly view.
@When_We_Were_Both_Cats@xanga - Actually that is not true at all.
All reputable scholars understand the critical role the Church played in preserving civilization during the Middle Ages.
There was no other civilized social institution in Europe during the Middle Ages except the Church. So your claim that the Church perpetuated the Middle Ages is not factual.
Modernity would never have happened without the Church of the Middle Ages. The world would still look like Afghanistan and the rice paddies of China without the Church of the Middle Ages.