Friday, July 26, 2019

Divergent Ideas

There is a disturbing trend today to shut down people with divergent ideas. A recent example is anti-vaxers on social media (I am not an anti-vaxer). It reminds me of my theological education. In one seminary, divergent ideas were erased. In another, one found them all over -- too many of them. And in another, they were discussed in full, but not condoned. I like the last approach. Don't shut it down, but engage with it. I think this was the most useful approach for me. OBSERVATION: In my metaphysic (total philosophy), I make a case for critical openness. It is not certain areas in themselves which hold the danger (say, religion, politics, ideology), but our approach to them.

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