Before I launch into the actual commission of thought to words, i should probably preface it by telling what led to this train of thought. I work with a number of very sarcastic, rude, and bitter people. Most of them are 50 or older, and are stuck in the job that they're in because they basically have no other place to go. All of them use tobacco and alcohol on a regular basis, and a number are divorced.
The other day, I (unknowingly) opened a very rank can of worms about abortion. I assumed, foolishly, that none of them would support it, since they all have kids of their own, and a number have grandkids. Suddenly a violent explosion of anger and caustic fury erupted upon me. Apparently both of them support early-term abortions, because they say the child isn’t viable on it’s own and therefore not really a human being. I of course argued about whether it was a potential child or not, etc.
The point is, we had a spirited “discussion” where neither of us was willing to compromise or consider changing our beliefs. And it got me started on thinking about the impudent audacity of human beings. We find a position on an issue, or an opinion about music, or we think we've found truth in a religion or belief system. And when we choose a side, an opinion, a religion, we put all our faith, trust, and value in that side, opinion, or religion. And as we grow older, we become less willing to change our position, either because we've gotten so good at defending it, or we're unwilling to consider the implications of a different world view. Or, (and this is my personal opinion) we're ashamed and terrified of appearing wrong in front of our peers.
Whether you believe it or not, peer pressure is at work even after Junior High. Human beings deeply desire, among other things, acceptance by our peers. And when we think or behave differently from them, or worse, change a position we once held with them to one they oppose, we do not get this acceptance. We are looked upon as an outcast, a "wannabe", or even an enemy. So to avoid hostility, we hold onto our beliefs, even though we know they are wrong.
There's a saying that we never learn from when we're right, but when we're wrong. Nothing is closer to the truth. Better to admit you were wrong, choose what is right, and lose some face among your friends than to cling stubbornly to erroneous belief systems. It takes a healthy share of humility, but don't humans need humility as much as they do right beliefs and right living, or righteousness, as God says?
2 comments:
"Better to admit you were wrong, choose what is right, and lose some face among your friends than to cling stubbornly to erroneous belief systems."
I think you're more likely to lose face by being stubborn about something, rather than by changing your mind about something, as long as you're really doing it because you agree, not just agreeing for the sake of avoiding an argument.
Valid point. However, it is that fear of having been wrong that seems to stop people more than anything. Admitting you were wrong can be hard at times.
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