A Jester in the King's Court

One thing I like about the human mind is that it has the capability of complex thought. We are able to take various bits of data and analyze them and come up with cogent well thought out ideas that we can variously defend and discuss. But one of the things I LOVE about humans is how often we look at that ability and throw it away because we'd rather form our beliefs based upon what someone else believes.

Now, I'm not talking about people influencing us one way or the other, I mean something much more visceral. Humans have a tendency to not like other humans. I think this started back in caveman times when Unga had a more stylish loin cloth then Junga did, and Junga was made to feel very bad about this fact, and took it out on his poor pet archaeopteryx. This led to the eventual war between the archaepteryxes and the cave people, which ended in the cave people eating many buffalo flavored archaeopteryx wings. They all liked this very much, and decided that not liking each other was actually a very good thing. Sadly, the secret of buffalo flavored wings was lost when Atlantis fell into the sea and was not discovered again until centuries later when a man in New York's third largest city finally unlocked the wisdom of the ancients. Everyone also agrees this is "wicked awesome."

What is fascinating however is that when humans dislike other humans, they do not just not like them, but they find the need to disagree with this human on all points. This visceral reaction is a much stronger force than any amount of like might be. For example, universal health care. Every Republican hates this bill. Why? Because its Obama's idea. If Bush pushed this, every Republican would love it and all the Dems would hate it. Why? Because the concern isn't with the bill itself, but with the person that likes it. I personally am just against taxes, so be it Bush or Bama...I hate taxes:]

Christians do the same things. I first changed to my present view of the end times because I thought my pator at the given time was wrong on everything always. He thinks that an amill, partial preterist, post-trib view is very wrong...therefore I started thinking that it probably made good sense and I started believing in it with no support other than the fact that I didn't have a reason not to. Granted, since then I've done the research and hold more firmly to my position, but the fact remains that it started as a reaction.

One of he saddest things is when you meet people that act in such a way that you want to change your beliefs not to be on their side. I have recently met a few Calvinists that make me want to disagree with them and switch back to the opposing side, just because I want to not agree with people that come off the way they do. Granted, I won't switch for that reason, but its easy to see that if we hold to a belief, but are unable to couch it in a reasonable and valid way, and our presentation and actions and demeanor are not appealing, then people want to flee from it.

Two more examples: Our present society does not have a valid argument to support its idea of "everyone is right." It cannot support the idea that money and sex make you happy. But when it is said in a caring way, paying heed to the emotions and couched in a manner that is attractive, then clearly it is alluring to people. When that is added to Christians saying truth, but in a hateful way...its not hard to see why the world seems more appealing.

The other example is that of Glen Beck. He and I have similar political views. We are both conservatives, and both disagree with where the country is headed. But every time i hear him talk, I become more liberal. He has no clue what he is saying, and is a manipulative propaganda bag. Because of this, I want to defend Obama when he talks. That is a huge step given that I think Obama is incompetent, but without trying on Beck's part, he makes an argument for Obama out of the very lunacy he spreds. Why? Because it elicits a visceral reaction that makes you want to change your view just so you can say that you disagree with him.

So, in closing....I think its fascinating that so many of our ideas actually arise from visceral responses to people that we think are bat crap crazy.