The Value Of Varied Viewpoints

People never seem to tire from hearing the things they like to hear. This is one of the reasons we have so few mature adults in our world today. They grew up as children that were given the things they desired and never learned to overcome obstacles to attain that which they desire.

This ineptitude has carried over into the realm of philosophy and wisdom. Very few people seem to step outside of their comfort zones into the world of adverse, or even diverse thought. We tend to continue wading in the kiddie pool of shallow thought. After all, it is easier to agree than to figure out how to discern truth and reason with those of opposing views.

The Apostle Paul addresses this in his second letter to Timothy - “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” I understand that this passage has direct connection to the Gospel, but it’s truth is a universal one - very often, we surround ourselves with affirming voices.

What ends up happening is that we shoot shots at the other side. We engage in battles that could be prevented with a treaty. This is not a phenomenon of individuals. It is a cultural symptom of the times we live in. Our leaders do it. So we do it.

So what do we do? How do we safely listen to the perspectives of other without falling into lies? How do we learn to listen and to share wisdom without shouting at those who disagree?

It starts with a little consideration. Recognize that no two people have the same experiences. Things like upbringing, socio-economic status, and education have bearing on one’s worldview. This is not to say that no worldviews are flawed, just that they are different.

The process continues when you start to ask yourself what it must be like to come from that particular culture and upbringing. As Harper Lee so fantastically worded it through the character Atticus Finch in “To Kill A Mockingbird,” “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.”

Doing these things will not necessarily cause you to lose your own worldview, but it will help you to understand where others are coming from. We are all afraid of what we do not understand, but as anyone can tell you, one overcomes their fears by facing them. We can understand others better when we take a breath, settle down, and listen to what someone else has to say, even when we know we will disagree.

I was blessed to be able to grow up with parents who were empathetic to others and taught me to be the same way. I was also blessed to have unique experience of spending some formative years in a foreign country. I was able to experience life both as a military brat and a civilian. I realize not everyone was able to benefit from the same upbringing, so I offer some things I have learned over the years:

1. Beware of words that satisfy your craving for wisdom and teachers who make you feel complete as you are. Wisdom is a journey without an earthly end. A good teacher is one who puts you on a path that leads you to discover that next important truth you need to build your worldview. I realize there are a great many pitfalls along that path, but the alternative is much more dangerous.

2. A bad teacher is one who tells you that you must not question them. The person who has no doubts seems admirable, but is probably actually quite shallow. Bad teachers discourage questions and encourage blind acceptance. They do not want you to discover the truth. They want you to buy their product.

I have had both good and bad teachers in my life. The best teacher I ever had was a man of proud Native American heritage. I do not know what his religious persuasion might have been, but it really didn’t matter. He wasn’t teaching us religion, he was teaching us about life. He gave us cultural experiences that helped us see the world and its variety. We were only in third grade, but he opened up our understanding that we were just a small part of a much larger world.

The worst teacher I ever had was in my last year of high school. This person was convinced that their particular subject matter was the most important in the world and that understanding it was the most important thing we could do. This teacher discouraged questions and belittled those who dared to ask. It was the only class I ever failed in my public school career.

The difference? One knew the importance of seeing things from other perspectives. The other was closed off to the world. If we choose to shut ourselves off from what others have to say we risk two things - failing to learn and failing to teach. We all get tired of knowing that we have the solution to so many problems if people would just listen. But when was the last time you listened?

Listen to people who are part of another denomination. Listen to people who are from another state or country. Listen to people who vote differently than you do. Listen to people of other ethnicities. Listen, not to become like them, but to understand them. Listen to find common ground. Listen to accomplish what shouting over each other cannot - understanding.

I do not encourage letting the philosophies of others carry you away like the wind. But I do recommend attempting to see things from the perspectives of others. Find out what makes others tick and you will see that people are not so complicated as they seem. We have similar dreams, fears, and goals. We just approach them differently. 

If you stay in your ideological box, you will eventually create for yourself an idol, because God will never fit in there with you. You will make a new god that is shaped and sized to live in your box with you. That god will not care for you. He will not appreciate your worship. He will not save you.

I guarantee you will never grow as a person if you don’t challenge yourself. You will shrink. Eventually, you will disappear altogether into a world where no one else exists - just you and the false god you have created. And what a lonely existence that will be.