I have been in my research class the past month or so, and it has reignited my interest in research. Research is so important and having this scientific approach in mind is a must. With technology and social media, anyone can say anything about anything without any evidence and any repercussions. That is dangerous. When we start to read things on social media and take it at face value, we become sheep. We don’t realize that “much of common sense [is] common nonsense and much traditional “wisdom” [is] superstition” (Mitchell & Jolley, 2012). Think about it. For the longest time, people believed that the world was flat. We can’t hold that against them because of lack of technology and research but to deny it now in the face of evidence is delusional.
Sadly, the easiest person to fool and mislead is ourselves. To avoid that, we must test our beliefs against observable, objective evidence rather than against our subjective opinion because most of us ignore that our personal ideas might be biased (Mitchell & Jolley, 2012). When I learn to not lean on my own understanding, I can keep an open mind. (New International Version [NIV], 1978/2011, Proverbs 3:5). Really, being open-minded “means being open to going wherever a careful consideration of the evidence leads you—even when that consideration leads you to reject beliefs you once held” (Mitchell & Jolley, 2012).
When you think about it, this reconsideration of beliefs is what Christ precisely tried to change with the Pharisees. He tried to challenge their beliefs that they had of the Law and what they believed about God, Him Himself, on a deeper level (NIV, 1978/2011, Matthew 23).
On a personal level, being at the Boarding Seminary did precisely this to me. When asked about my experience with the Boarding Seminary, I share how those two years took my view of myself, the Church, and God Himself and uprooted it. It wasn’t comfortable, though; it probably is the most uncomfortable experience of my life. In reality, anytime my beliefs about myself, life, or God are challenged, it’s been unpleasant. But it’s also been the place of the most growth in my life. It’s been the point of most maturing that has happened and truthfully will continue to be. I’ve grown to realize the more I try to keep comfortable in my subjective ideas, the more I’m hurting myself and those around me. One of my master’s program’s blessings is that it has objectively shown me why I think, feel, and do certain things in my own life.
At the end of the day, I need to adjust the way I’ve been blogging. I need to remember that I don’t “know it all” no matter how much learning or reading I’ve done. “Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh” (New King James Version, 1982/2004, Ecclesiastes 12:12). What I hope to do is to write posts that are backed up by references. The downside is that there might be a more academic tone to it, but it’s more important that I show that these concepts or ideas are not something I concocted on my own.
References
Mitchell, M. L., & Jolley, J. M. (2012). Research Design Explained (8th edition). Wadsworth Publishing.
New International Version Bible. (2011). Zondervan. (Original work published 1978).
New King James Bible. (2004). Thomas Nelson. (Original work published 1982).