Our ability to think, believe, and form opinions about topics is a gift. We are the only creatures on the planet that have the ability to form ideas and create meaning in our lives. We are given data and information throughout life about various different things: schooling, politics, religion, dating, marriage, philosophy and the like. It is our responsibility then to formulate our own opinions through experience and research in these areas so that we can come to what many would call a “worldview.” A worldview is a perspective and process by which one takes on life in light of all of the things they understand and do not understand, believe or not believe, and agree with or disagree with. There are, with 8 billion people in the world, 8 billion different worldviews. No matter how similar a person is to another they do not think exactly the same way. They may agree with various people on a whole slew of different issues, but will probably disagree on something else like how to raise a child or where to get best deals on quality salsa. And of course there are those people that disagree on most everything and swing on the complete opposite end of the pendulum from small topics of shopping to issues with more gravitas like ethics and philosophy.
With all these differences, it is easy for quarrels and disagreements to arise. It is not hard to notice by just turning on the TV that people have strong opinions and can consider others with differing arguments daft, uninformed and sometimes downright stupid. Opinions are expressed on talk shows, political debates, sports shows and even cartoons with certain agendas and ideas they want to get across. It is everywhere. For this reason, I have come to realize that thinking is a gift and it is a gift given not only to me, but to everyone who can realize their autonomy. And so my main point is this: STOP trying to make everyone think like you do. Embrace the different ways of thinking that are out in the world and learn to embrace the idea that your worldview might be just as wrong as the person next to you. Now I am not saying to stop being persuasive, or to stop having meaningful discussions about important issues that can get heated at times. I am saying that there is so much bickering and fighting in the world over ideas and beliefs, much of which is done outside of love and listening and so nothing actually gets accomplished.
Much of debate is done today without even listening to what the other party has to say. We come into conversations holding tightly to our bias, our preconceptions of the other person and their beliefs, and our relentless pursuit of being right, and therefore, we can’t really have disagreement that is fruitful in any way. Disagreement is natural, as natural as the differences in our bodies and frame, and because of this I believe that we need to have more grace for each other wherever we are at in our ideologies and beliefs. It is indeed far from worth it to devalue another individual because they think differently then you. We are all one, made from the same substance, made in the same image, and valued by the same God. So let us let go of our need to have everyone be on the same page as us, or even to have them read from the same book. I am dedicated now only to listen before I speak, to hear a person’s heart before I judge their views, and value before I vilify a person who I disagree with. I encourage you to do the same as you enter into conversation and debate with others in whatever area, whether theology and philosophy, politics and economics, and even debates with your spouse or significant other that can get you on a whole different level of angry. Learn to love people, and love them by listening and embracing that they are not you and don’t have to be.
Abundant Living 