Conclusion

                In this final post, I’ll wrap the things up by explaining the type thinking that led me to these conclusions, why it matters, and how it applies to other situations. For much of my life, I held firm beliefs about rights and wrongs, but reasoning and critical thought played minimal roles in determining which was which. My own desire to fit in made it nearly impossible to challenge the status quo. Now as discussed earlier, I believe there is a fundamental difference between scientific and experiential truth, but the ability to think critically assists in the pursuit of either. When faced with a statement that is more or less universally accepted (whether locally, nationally or whatever) people tend to go with the flow.  This is the opposite of thinking critically, which by definition, requires you to carefully consider the logical coherency and justifiability of any claim, regardless of its level of acceptance.  Historically, a lack of critical thinking has led to immense failures on the part of scientific and religious communities alike, not to mention a vast number of disagreeable individuals. This how cults get started, people get alienated, and knowledge becomes end in itself rather than a tool for a greater good. 

                Thankfully, there are processes in place to help maintain the integrity of academic institutions and Christian organizations. Scientific publications are peer-reviewed to ensure that they achieve a certain standard of practice, and in a similar process, Christian sermons, programs, and churches are regularly held up to established tradition and doctrine. Beware of any material from groups that neglect or belittle the importance of these safeguards!

                Hopefully by now, you have some idea of why I think all of this is important. Please don’t misinterpret this blog as merely promoting liberal ideals like thinking abstractly or conservative ideals such as being committed to a religious faith. This isn’t about the conclusions, it’s about the process. Being able to think independently is an essential skill for any leader engaged in any activity. How can humanity advance in any regard without the capacity and desire to improve upon established precedents? It doesn’t matter whether you are an engineer, a pastor, or a pastry chef. This world needs innovators, risk takers, and well-reasoned convictions. Be all that God (and perhaps evolution :)) created you to be!

                One of the joys of a liberal arts education is the privilege of studying a variety of subjects in a minimal amount of time. If you’re in college, take advantage of it. Talk to people who think and talk differently than you do. Don’t just receive information from lectures; evaluate it. Use it as such.  Diligently seek after natural and supernatural truth with all of the resources that your institution provides. Don’t be content with simple answers to complex questions. If you are not a college student, most of the same advice applies, but it will require a lot more intentionality on your part. Consider what hidden agendas your news sources may have, and always consult more than one. With the Internet, we have the single, most informative tool in the history of the universe. Use it as such! In fact, a good portion of the research for this blog was compiled by link-hopping and Wikipedia-surfing. Bottom line: find something that interests you and affects the way that you do your job and relate to the people around you. It’s easier to accept things the way that they are, but it’s better to think for yourself and act accordingly. Grace and peace,

Kevin