Defend Your Beliefs by Exposing Their Failures
Why it’s never good to sacrifice integrity for institutions
Truth can withstand any and all levels of scrutiny. Truth always holds up. Truth loves debate, because truth can be truth when exposed to fallacy. Light is visible most when the eyes are accustomed to darkness.
My friend and I were discussing great movies we’d seen recently, and it went something like this…
“Oh, man, you should really see Spotlight. It was soooo goo…oh, wait. You probably wouldn’t like that one.”
“Why not,” I replied, knowing full well what was coming next.
“Well, because it’s not very pro-religion, and I know you’re religious.
“Hmm,” I pretended to ponder, “what about me makes you think I tolerate sexual abuse and criminal activity?”
Drag everything into the light. All of it.
For the sake of our society, we need everything to be under scrutiny, to be sifted and tried until it’s found firm or found wanting. But beyond trying truths in a court of reason, we must take periodic walks through the fields and find the intrusive plants along the way, tearing them up by the roots until the crop is safe and healthy.
And heck, if Spotlight lets you know that the Catholic Church has a problem, here’s a link to buying it on Amazon. Watch it. Research what you’ve learned. Call the local Bishop. Write your congressman.
What am I afraid of? Nothing. Because the actions of men aren’t indicative of the accuracy of the truth I espouse.
Now here’s where I do get scared. I’m afraid of the credibility of my truth when it appears that my truth is tolerant of other fallacies or evils.
The moment that truth allows for fallacy, I have to ask if my truth is true. Can two walk together unless they be agreed? No, they cannot. Every time a failure from those that ascribe to a belief is overlooked, the belief as a whole is weakened. This is counter intuitive. We think the less dings on the facade equals greater respect and validation. This is false. The fire reveals the material.
Burn it to the ground. Whatever is left is that which has not been exposed as false or illogical. Burn your politics to the ground. Burn your religion to the ground. Burn your every persuasion to the ground, and if it withstands the furnace, it’s got some value to it.
When your president lies, call him on it. When “their” president lies, call him on it. (Or her, sorry, don’t send letters). When your pastor sins, bring him to a point of repentance or excommunication. When your tax plan is exposed as having faulty math, toss it, admit it, look for new solutions.
And most importantly, when you fail, stand up, say it, confess it, and start building again.
Five thoughts…
- Don’t overlook one truth to protect another. (Lies don’t make your Senate bill more impactful)
- Don’t manipulate truth to save your truth. (Don’t twist what the poll/study actually concluded)
- Don’t hide the failures of those that align with your truth. (Sometimes bad people do bad things)
- Don’t be afraid of temporary bad PR. (Truth has timelessness)
- Don’t compare failures on your side to failures on “their” side. (What he did doesn’t excuse what we did)
