QUESTIONS, DOUBTS AND CRITICAL THINKING

PART 1

Critical thinking has been defined – at least by Google AI -- as “the intellectually disciplined process of actively analyzing, evaluating, and synthesizing information to reach reasoned, objective, and sound judgments. It involves questioning assumptions, identifying biases, and using logic to assess evidence, moving beyond simple information recall to deeper understanding.”  

I think most everyone would agree that critical thinking is an essential part of growth and, indeed, being human.  It allows us to carefully and cerebrally analyze a topic, statement or assertion and make an informed determination as to its truth or falsehood.  This type of thinking and decision-making process allows us to navigate through an infinite number of daily tasks, dilemmas and situations and make informed, well-thought-out decisions and judgments.  Without critical thinking, we would be doomed to persistently believing lies, half-truths and false assertions and premises.  We would constantly be duped and misinformed, resulting in continuously making poor decisions and judgments.  We would live our life in mental darkness as opposed to in an informed, enlightened state.  That’s bad. 

When does a human develop critical thinking ability?  Many studies have shown that children between the ages of 5 – 9 begin developing the foundational skills for critical thinking, and this continues to improve with age, education and life experiences.  We begin to learn formal logic, how to analyze data and how to deduce and make sound conclusions based on available information and employing logical skills.  Sound critical thinking is essential to success as an adult, perhaps especially in today’s chaotic world filled with an avalanche of differing and often competing opinions and assertions.  Just what is true and what is “fake news”?  We certainly need critical thinking now more than ever. 

So, if critical thinking is so important in navigating our way through the minefield of life, why don’t we apply it more to spirituality, a major aspect of life?  It seems that the vast majority of people learn their faith as a very young child from their parents and/or their parents’ church and keep essentially the same beliefs and tenets throughout their lifetime.  Many, if not most, fail or refuse to question or carefully analyze these beliefs to determine their accuracy or truthfulness.  

For much of the history of the Catholic church, questioning the teachings of the priests, bishops and higher clergy was not only discouraged, but considered heresy.  Every Catholic was expected to tow-the-line and accept the statements of the church and its clergy as the proverbial gospel truth.  Failure to comply – to keep silent and obey – could be and usually was punishable by heavy fines, imprisonment, excommunication, torture, or even death.  Indeed, the Pope and his European vassals, which included many of the kings and queens of European countries, would lead “convert or die” crusades against what they perceived as heretical groups.  Just one sad example is the Albigensian Crusade, which lasted from 1209 – 1229, and was targeted against the Cathars, a Catholic sect whose dualism beliefs were considered so heretical that adherents were brutally slaughtered and eliminated.  The lesson?  Don’t question.  Obey or else. 

That “don’t question” policy and tradition of the Catholic church was unfortunately adopted by the Protestant movement and most other branches of Christianity, as well as many other faiths.  Adherents were (and still are) expected to accept what they were taught without much, if any thought.  Asking questions – and certainly employing critical thinking – was – and to a large extent still is – discouraged.  Heaven help you if your beliefs differ from those being taught and espoused from the pulpit.  While asking a tough question or espousing a different belief may no longer result in torture or death, it still can have the effect of causing one to be ostracized or even ousted from the congregation.  That is a topic for a future installment. 

So, what about me?  What has been my personal experience?  My family, particularly my mom, was a dyed-in-the-wool Catholic.  She never, ever missed Mass on Sunday or any “Holy Day of Obligation”, truly believing it was a sin to do so.  But she faithfully attended more out of a love and true belief in the sanctity of the Mass rather than any sin or stain that she would incur if she were to miss.  While I disagree with the imposed obligation to attend Mass and the equating of that with sin, I still admire her faithfulness, devotion and whole-hearted belief in the teachings of the Catholic church. 

My mom rigorously taught my sisters and me the tenets of the faith.  In addition, my parents, even though we were relatively poor (my father never earned more than $18,000 a year and my mom was not gainfully employed), they believed it was a priority to send us to Catholic school.  I can only imagine the sacrifices they made so they could instead pay the tuition and related expenses for attending private religious institutions.  Religious classes, which concentrated exclusively on Catholic dogma and doctrine, were part of my everyday schooling both in grammar and high school.  I even earned my undergraduate degree from Loyola University, which was operated by the Jesuit branch of the Catholic religion.  Bible instruction – albeit presented with an exclusively Catholic vision and bias – was part of every day of my schooling.  

I was taught and indoctrinated into the Catholic faith straight through my high school years.  Loyola University was a liberal arts school, so there was a wider exposure to other faiths, but never the beliefs of different branches of Christianity.  I honestly didn’t know what Methodists, Baptists or Lutherans believed.  Indeed, I actually dated a Baptist girl once, and my dad was not happy, claiming I should be dating good Catholic girls, somewhat implying that non-Catholic girls were somehow morally suspicious.  As a hormone-crazed teenage boy, I would have likely been delighted if any girl I dated was morally liberal! 

In spite of all this Catholic training and studies, I had doubts.  Understandably, these doubts didn’t begin surfacing until I began to learn the ability to think critically.  So, I was blissfully compliant during my early grammar school education.  However, as I approached high school age, questions and doubts began to arise more frequently and eventually with greater urgency.  Some of what was being espoused seemed, well, dubious.   Was Jesus really born of a virgin?  If he was fully man, did he really never sin?  Did the host and wine (yes, Catholics drink wine during service, not that poor Welch’s Grape Juice substitute that Protestants prefer) that are presented and consumed during Mass really turn into the actual body and blood of Jesus?  Not only did that seem gross and somewhat cannibalistic, but it seemed nigh impossible as well.  I know I personally tasted nothing but stale, no flavor cardboard that masqueraded as bread.  The wine, however, was exceedingly sweet, which was just fine with me, thank you. 

The questions and doubts became more serious as I matured.  Were only believers in Jesus as God and Savior going to be saved and go to heaven?  If so, what about the vast majority of people in the world that weren’t Christians?  Didn’t God love them, too?  Does God play favorites?  Was a loving God who created each and every person going to turn his back on those who aren’t Christians and allow them to spend eternity in hell?  Was hell real, or just an invention of folks who demanded justice for the evil doers and their enemies … and apparently non-believers?  Did Jesus really have to die in order for us to be reconciled with a god who supposedly loves us unconditionally?  If his grace and forgiveness know no boundaries, why did a gulf of separation form between us?  Sin?  We are all human and we all “sin”.  I thought through his grace we are forgiven.  Was Jesus really God himself, or was he a manifestation of God, one who taught and showed us how God wanted us to treat and love others?  Or was he just a really a very smart guy who had incredible insight of God and his (or her, or … whatever) nature?  

These questions and doubts bounced around my mind for a long, long time … decades upon decades. 

To Be Continued ...