The reality of confirmation bias* and its threat to intellectual integrity is one reason that Christian thinkers must read widely and think carefully. We must not limit ourselves to reading material from those who agree with us, fellow Christians who share a common worldview and perspective. Instead, we have to "read the opposition" as well -- and read opposing viewpoints with fairness and care.
This does not come easily, but Christians bear a particular responsibility to be watchful for confirmation bias and its effects.
Dr. Albert Mohler, "Confirmation Bias in a Fallen World"
*"whereby we seek and find confirmatory evidence in support of already existing beliefs and ignore or reinterpret disconfirmatory evidence"
—Scientific American
4 comments:
Hi Katy,
I do agree with Mohler on this, and not just because it's one of the greatest accusations against those of reformed persuasion.
However, and I'm not suggesting your post speaks against this, I do need to toss out my customary caution.
In so many ways I am seeing a return to conservative doctrines of grace amongst many who were formally otherwise. But when it comes to arriving at our doctrinal positions it must come first and foremost from scripture and not from reading reformed writing.
I am concerned that while there are many who truly arrive at such doctrines and are led by the Spirit and by the word of God, there are still those who are merely swapping one body of credible teachings for another.
One of the beauties of the company we keep is that it greatly appeals to the intellect. And this isn't bad, in and of itself. But we shouldn't forget that it is a human distinctive to be drawn to such teachings or writings, it doesn't always come as a result of true spiritual conviction.
Also, believe it or not, men have flaws. I know it's a hard pill to swallow, but it's true :) BTW, women are flawed too-- uh, probably to a lesser extent.
As such, we are prone to passing on errors. Therefore, we must not only be conservative in our theology, we must also be as the Bereans and diligently search the scriptures ourselves to see whether certain doctrines are so.
Anyway, you're probably well aware and this may be needless babbling. I'm thankful for what you're doing on this site and I suspect I will continue to follow along, now that I've discovered it. I hope that's okay, considering I'm not a woman. Lisa tolerates me well. Probably because I own a kilt (it's actually part of an inside joke, but true nonetheless).
Take care,
Mike
Mike, hello, and thank you for your comments! I've thought a lot about the similarities among those who are drawn to Reforned theology as well.
You've reminded me of an incident from not long after I first joined a Reformed church. I was in a women's Bible study, and something came up one evening to which one of the participants replied, "That's not Reformed." There's was nothing doctinally unsound about what was said, it was just a matter of dimissing something out of hand because the source was not "Reformed." Now I'm in a Southern Bapstist Church, and I KNOW that my pastor has problems with limited atonement and irresistible grace, but that doesn't mean I don't listen to his sermons. I often learn a great deal from them and am encouraged and exhorted by them.
So you made an excellent point. We should be watchful for confirmation bias WITHIN the chuch as well.
I look forward to reading your blog too.
Mike, by the way, I meant to add that I have several male friends who I know read my blog, so you are not alone! You are most welcome! In fact, I think about how I present the content so that it won't appeal strictly to women. Thanks!
Thank you for the welcome.
I was once a Southern Baptist, but ceased when I moved from Jacksonville FL to San Jose CA. I loved my church in FL and never wanted to leave as I was saved while stationed out there, and eventually surrendered to the ministry and began preaching through my church.
When I came to CA, I found the SBC churches in my area were considerably different than what I had accepted as de facto in FL. I ended up in an independent fundamental Baptist church for the next 10 years. Once I realized how "off" things were, I was a bit trapped as I had sort of married into that world.
Anyway, God has done much in our lives since then. We tried returning to a SBC church, last summer. I really enjoyed the pastor, but I had a growing passion for our community and this church was 30 miles away. God eventually showed us a church, sort of in our backyard, which is very calvinistic in its doctrine. We've been here since January of this year.
And I certainly don't mind if your material is catered one way or the other. Lisa at Deo Volente tends to express much from her perspective as a mother and wife. I find it refreshing and helpful to get such a perspective. As an ex-Navy guy, my tendency is to want to engage and fight the enemy. This isn't always a good trait to have.
Anyway, I am looking forward to reading your latest post.
And thanks again!
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