Making Sense out of Nonsense
It’s uncomfortable having to admit our mental limitations.
The greatest benefit of real science is understanding we know some things, don’t know most things, and that some things we think we know are either only partly true or completely false.
This means scientists must be both skeptical and truth-telling people who continually fight the urge to pretend that nonsense makes any sense whatsoever. Certainly, at cocktail parties they might be inclined to be agreeable and put up with nonsense, but in their day jobs they serve society best when they give no quarter for casual, even popular misinformation.
Of course not every scientist is scientific in their thinking. Many work for non-scientific business bosses and politicians who pay them directly or indirectly in order to have them construct a “popular science” that enables products and services to be sold. Here’s a tip. Never believe the research any company performs on its own products, especially if in the ads, people are wearing lab coats. It’s likely all nonsense.
But scientists do not have a corner on needing to live in the truth. Critical thinking is an important skill for all adults to master, especially if their children are to enjoy a normal childhood and for their marriages to last. The problem comes in relationships when someone decides they are unhappy with the reality that they know some things, don’t know most things, and some of what they think they know just ain’t so.
Because they hate living in the grey zone that requires the frequent humble admission of uncertainty and the need to at times submit to anyone else, they instead look for answers from some charismatic character who promises knowledge and power beyond the reach of most mortals. This is how many find their way into a cult or the occult.
Both cults and the occult are secret societies that offer enlightenment and even power to seekers willing to sacrifice at first a little time and money. Eventually as people accept more and more nonsense, their minds can lose a grip on reality. When this happens often they will begin to believe what their handlers tell them about how their real enemies are those who have known them the longest and most completely. This leads these poor people to choose new “family” and “friends” who are inside the same controlled manipulative environment.
To Conclude
Let’s accept our limitations and find strength and support in as broad and diverse a group of friends as possible. Let’s not be afraid of different opinions or fear being honest saying we don’t know things. And finally, let’s avoid trusting only people of a certain group because this can lead to an unhealthy distrust of others, especially those who may not think like us but still know the difference between sense and nonsense.
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.