Thinking....or not. What AM I thinking?

Thinking about why I think about things…

In this era of “fake news” and public figures that clearly say one thing, then, abruptly, say the exact opposite…all the while stating, “I never said that. That’s fake news.” It’s becoming challenging to find, analyze, and hang on to actual facts. It’s becoming hard to THINK.

So, I’ve been thinking about how we think. Realizing that folks are often not taught to THINK, but only to learn the “accepted” perspsective (you know, the ONE right way or answer or theology) and to believe, speak, and make decisions based on that “right” perspective.

I spent some time thinking about how I think. And, to try to sharpen my thinking tools.

Here’s an in-process description:

·      I notice….I see something. Observe a pattern. Hear a perspective or information presented

·      I wonder.  Is this true? What’s happening here? Why are people doing or saying or believing this?

·      I gather.

o   Observations, perspectives and experiences. My own and others’.

o    Information. FACTS. Research and evidence-based information. Not opinions. Not popular theology. Actual facts.

o   Read actual work of theologians and scholars and researchers.

o   My goal is to understand and learn actual facts

·      I ponder. Hmmmm….what does this all mean? If what I notice. Or hear others say. Or read in an article or book or sermon….doesn’t match up with facts, evidence, or research-based information. What does that mean?

·      I analyze. For example, if someone says, “It’s wrong to take out loans to attend a top college. Because the Bible says not to borrow money.  Community college was good enough for me.” I must ask myself: questions like: is that actually what the Bible says? Is the translation accurate? What did those words mean in culture and history when they were actually written?  How does a 1^st century principle of living translate into 21^st century decision-making?
Or, “Plastic bags aren’t biodegradable. Use paper bags or you’re ruining the environment.” I must do some research. Hmmm…turns out paper bags weight 9 times more than plastic. So, it takes 9x more gas to ship them. But, 20% of paper bags are recycled while only 1% of plastic. Both produce pollution in manufacturing. Hmmmm…analyzing and actual facts produce a not-so-clear picture. Just accepting somebody else’s opinion or theology can lead me to wrong conclusions!

·      Then I conclude (with thanks to Paul and Donna Bell) I separate my perspectives:

o   Do I THINK something might be true?

o   Do I BELIEVE something is true because it “feels right” and lines up with what I observe and the observations , experiences and perspectives of others I trust.

o   Do I KNOW something is true because the information (observed, experienced, and research-evidence-scholarship-based) I gathered consistently supports it as true.

Finally, I hold things lightly.

 I’m working hard to remember Shawn Bolz’s statement “The need to be right will always war against love.”

Am I willing to be wrong? Willing to say, at some later date, “I used to believe this…or thought I KNEW this was true. I learned new information. Or, what I thought I observed wasn’t accurate. Or, results from scholarship, science/research have revealed new facts.

Now I see I was wrong. I’ve changed my thinking.”

OR am I so invested in being right that I’m not willing to say, “Whoops. I was wrong.”

So, when you hear me say, “I’ve been thinking about….” I’ll try to remember to also say….and I’m still  noticing…or wondering, gathering, pondering or analyzing. OR to clarify, “I think or believe this might be true, but I don’t know.”

Love to you all. Here’s to better thinking!