Heresy

Again, I quote Wikipedia: Heresy, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is a “theological or religious opinion or doctrine maintained in opposition, or held to be contrary, to the Roman Catholic or Orthodox doctrine of the Christian Church, or, by extension, to that of any church, creed, or religious system, considered as orthodox. By extension, heresy is an opinion or doctrine in philosophy, politics, science, art, etc., at variance with those generally accepted as authoritative.” (bold mine).

By this definition, especially that last statement in bold, I am a heretic. Of course, this is based on what I perceive as mainstream. Perhaps there are more like me than I know. I hope I find them. Maybe I will as this blog progresses.

The first few or several entries here will just be laying ground work. I plan to write some posts about generalities, definitions, etc. Then I will ease myself into specific opinions on various issues. I admit to some nervousness. I know well the criticism a rebel receives. Sometimes heretics are persecuted. The pressure to conform is tremendous .

In this current atmosphere of polarization in the U.S., it is especially scary. We have some serious currents flowing here. I believe they are dangerous. For the first time in my 48 years, I am afraid to speak my opinions to the “wrong person”. For the first time, I fear loss of livelihood (my job) if I speak “heresy” at work. I fear loss of friends and family members who seem to adamantly accept what they are told. I feel the loss of my freedoms.

Perhaps many of those accepting what they are told are so adamant because on some level they perceive the danger of saying otherwise. They need to be adamant so as to keep themselves convinced. Few people want to be seen as the “trouble maker” in the best of times. These are not the best of times as far as I am concerned. To remain silent, however, is to acquiesce. That I cannot do.

Yet, I don’t see any immediate personal danger. I just feel it looming on the horizon. An old anecdote comes to mind. If you want to cook a live frog, you do not put it in a pot of boiling water. The frog, alarmed by the sudden heat will try to jump out, perhaps successfully. No, to be safe, you put it in a pot of lukewarm water. Then you bring the heat up degree by degree. By the time the frog notices how hot it is, it is too late, The frog is cooked.

Yes, I will elaborate in future blog posts. It is too big and complicated to me to cover everything in one blog post. For now, I will say that my fears are about what is happening in our government. Religion is being used as well I fear. I will also say for the record that I am deeply patriotic. I love this country, and the principles upon which it was founded. As part of those principles I hold dear, I respect each persons right to their choice of religion even when they choose none. I love the people of this country in all their diversity.

It occurs to me that we may be polarized because someone(s) want us that way. Divide and conquer is a classic strategy. As long as we remain in conflict, it makes it difficult to see what is going on around us.

I don’t fully understand it all, and I may never fully understand it. I hope to gain some clarity through this blog. I hope to help shed light for others as well.

Hello world!

According to Wikipedia: “In common parlance, a devil’s advocate is someone who takes a position for the sake of argument. This practice is generally an instructional technique in which one person argues a position that another is less familiar with, thereby teaching proper argument.” (Wikipedia goes on to discuss the origins of this saying if you are interested.) It is also often used to describe someone who takes the opposite side in order to explore the issue more fully. As in “Let me just play Devil’s Advocate here”.

It seems to be my job in life to act as “Devil’s Advocate”.

I often feel compelled to argue for the opposite point of view whenever someone speaks to me in absolutes. I find that things are rarely absolute, making this a red flag for me. It makes me suspect someone is just parroting something they were told or taught. I then ask them why they think that. If they cannot tell me, I become convinced they have swallowed a concept or belief without thinking. I get an urge to shake them and tell them “Think for yourself!” I often feel this way even if I agree with the concept or belief they espouse. As you can imagine, I drive my friends and family crazy!

So, I thought to channel this habit through a blog. Perhaps, I can use it for good. I hope so.

Many do not understand the value of taking the “Devil’s Advocate” role. To argue one side of an argument helps you find the holes in the other side. I do it to myself as well. It is a very useful device in aid of thinking. I learned this technique in High School. I had a Sociology Instructor who made us pick a controversial issue of the time. Then we were told to argue the side opposite our own opinion. It was really tough. At the time, I did not fully appreciate this exercise and the value it has.

I have often been labeled as a rebel. Being a rebel in our society, indeed in most societies, has the reputation of being a bad thing. I have read that there are some few societies that value the rebel. If I remember correctly and the information was accurate, there was a Native American society that valued the “Contrary”. I think “The Rebel” or “Contrary” provides a mirror for us all. For example, I think you understand light better when compared to darkness.

I spent years as a frustrated rebel. I didn’t fully understand how useful it can be. I just felt the need to question and to argue when offered assertions I was expected to believe. Then about 15 years (or so) ago, I had a boss. She was a woman younger than I with much wisdom and consciousness. She taught me the value of being a rebel. She taught me that there is a place for rebels. She a purposefully tried to keep at least one rebel on her team. She taught me that without rebels, we can stagnate as a group. The rebel provides the “Devils Advocate” arguments that others are afraid to speak aloud. She was a brave woman! I know she had her hands full with me, but she channeled my energies well.

No, the “Devil’s Advocate” argument is not always the correct one, but it makes you think. It keeps you on your toes. I can tell you it is a hard row to hoe being the rebel. As a rebel, you face plenty of derision, opposition, resistance, criticism…shall I go on? It’s a rotten job, but someone has to do it!

I have a vision of this blog being a place where I can explore the “Devil’s Advocate” position on various topics, share my opinions and where I get them. I also plan on including excerpts (on occasion) from a text on “Critical Thinking”. I think this skill is sadly lacking in our society. My hope is to help myself and others to develop this skill. I am not a scholar. I am just an ordinary woman who likes to think for herself. I make mistakes. I even make dumb ones at times. So, if you catch me in one, please do point it out. That is how I learn. If you find yourself with an opinion different from mine, by all means, tell me about it and explain why you think the way you do. That way we all can learn.