Like many people, I’ve watched the news and listened to the pundits and commentators with increasing horror. I finally had to step away, have a thorough shake, and take a long hard look at the way things are going. It’s not encouraging, it’s not good, but it’s also not Armageddon. There are things that can be done to short-circuit the nonsense. However, we also need to understand what’s actually happening.
The chief problem I see is that people are becoming polarized between two irreconcilable modes of thought: let’s call them faith and logic.
Faith does not strictly mean religious faith. Faith implies a primarily emotion-based decision process, which leans heavily on received or established authority, whether from written or anecdotal sources.
Logic is considered for this use to mean an emotionless and strictly logical decision process, whether based on legal or scientific sources. It is not an atheistic process.
While there is occasionally some crossover agreement between the two camps, most commonly the two sides cannot agree on methods, goals or reasoning on any given subject. The rhetoric used by each side is generally not understood by the other, and therefore arguments from either side are dismissed as incomprehensible and invalid by the other. In other words, no argument raised by one side will convince the other side. Even the methods of logic used by one side are dismissed by followers of the opposing view. This creates an impasse.
Because I am an artist and a practicing Christian who is also thoroughly trained in science, engineering and math, I find myself uniquely qualified to speak to and about both sides. This is an uncomfortable balancing act, I assure you. It is, however, not impossible. All logic, from geometry through higher order mathematics, is based on a series of assumptions which are unproven but assumed to be true. Every faith proceeds in a series of logical steps, regardless of the initial – usually inspired or authoritarian – precepts. The thing that both modes of thought have in common is that they are technologies – meaning that they are man-made. The universe at large neither knows nor responds to human thought patterns. Only human beings do.
There are times when it is best to lean on cold, pure logic in decision-making – when buying a car or taking a test, for instance. There are also times when the emotive approach is better – when comforting a grieving friend or looking at art, as examples. Anyone who leans exclusively on one or the other approach will make many errors in judgement. Most people understand this. However, we increasingly find people – including ourselves – being polarized into two opposing camps.
The people who are pushing this polarizing effort, and yes, very often they’re doing it knowingly, do not have your best interests in mind. Their goal is very clear – to obtain and maintain power over the people. These politicians know (you knew where I was going) that in order to convince you to do what they want, they have to keep you off balance – get you shouting about issues that have absolutely no bearing on anything real. They know that people who stop long enough to actually think about their message will realize that it’s completely bogus. And yes, I mean both sides. No matter who you listen to, you’re being played for a fool.
The logic they try to get you to follow isn’t logical. The emotions they try to get you to feel – they don’t share. And they’re all lousy actors, as a rule. It’s embarrassing, really. It’s like being caught up in a huge, dysfunctional and none too well-designed circus. You start to feel like you’ve been robbed. And you have. Like any game of Three Card Monty, the dealers fleece the public as long as they can, then move on. The only way to win is by refusing to play their game.
Here’s how to win: whenever you start to feel outraged or super patriotically inspired by anything any of these pretenders are saying – stop. Take a step back, breathe for a moment and then really examine what’s being said. God didn’t give you a brain just to keep your head from collapsing. Once again, I repeat myself – think for yourself. If, on cool reflection, you still believe that one side has your best interests in mind – then, by all means vote for them. But don’t automatically dismiss the arguments of the other side as being harmful or evil. Hold these people to the standards they profess. Make sure they’re actually doing the things they say they’ll do. If they can’t or won’t do what they say, they’re just lying to you. You deserve better – demand better.
Finally – stop letting these people run the show. You’re smarter than that. Don’t buy into everything that either side has to say – especially if they’re screaming to get your attention. You can use both logic and faith to get what you need. The two approaches are quite effective by themselves – they’re even more powerful when you understand both positions and use both approaches to make them dance to your tune. Start calling the shots – they don’t know how to respond to that. What they do understand is that they need to do what you want if they expect to keep their jobs. You have the power – use it.
Be well.
TGC