Consider the Sources of Your Beliefs

Hello, we are progressing through my blog series

10 Things I Would Tell ANYONE

#6: Consider the Sources of Your Beliefs

In my book Atheist. Agnostic. Skeptic. Believer. I confess to the reader that I had created a complete, fully formed point of view about God, Jesus, The Bible and organized religion without ever actually consulting any valid sources of information. The Bible for instance, that’s a good place to start if you already have a strong opinion about The Bible. But no, what I actually did was create a point of view without any real information, from a place of blissful ignorance.

That’s why this topic makes my list. So often I observe people belligerently, angrily spouting or defending their particular viewpoint, opinion or belief without actually saying anything. Because there’s nothing there. It’s all rhetoric, slogans, catchphrases, soundbites, empty promises, false truths, mis- and disinformation, or just plain bullshit.

“But Rock, you’re one of the stupidest, most ignorant, biggest idiots I know,” you say. I can’t disagree – do as I say, not as I do in this case. And in my defense, I try not to run around pushing what I have to say on others, but to offer what I have to say, if asked. That seems like a lie as I semi-reluctantly yet full-on try to market a book, but you’re going to have to cut me a little slack on that one. Hey, I might only write a book once, you know!

The point today though, is consider your sources. Where do you get your news? Where do you do your reading? What is the slant of the platform you get information from? Or the leaning of the writer? Is the media outlet that you trust (think about that word in this context) hard-Left or hard-Right? Conservative or Liberal? Political or apolitical? Highly rhetorical or neutral? And put some real weight on this one: Opinion or Fact?

[Some “News” sources are actually only producing opinion, and opinion is not fact. So watch out for that. This blog, for instance, is not fact. I’m not a journalist and this isn’t fact-based reporting. I’m just talking about stuff.]

Talking about this is actually kind of difficult, since I can’t use any real-world examples without pissing you off. I can’t touch politics or religion. I might be able to get away with Flat Earth ideology? I have to kind of assume that most or all of “my audience,” whatever that is, believe our planet is spherical in shape. Right? I mean, that’s what I believe. …I dunno, seems risky!

So just as an example then, to the Flat Earthers I say, where do you get your information? What are your sources? What about them makes them trustworthy to you? Could those sources have their own agendas, or are they seeking impartiality? Are you approaching this belief from a neutral, unbiased point of view, or are you coming in with preconceptions and firm opinions?

On a couple of occasions I have Googled something like “Most Unbiased News Sources.” Each time I came across a graphic showing far-Left leaning entities on one side and far-Right on the other, with some in the middle, too. For me – just me personally – that’s what I’m looking for. “But Rock, you don’t read the news,” you remind me. I mean, I don’t, but I scroll headlines sometimes while actively avoiding doomscrolling. I take the time and effort to block topics and sources that I don’t want any part of. Just speaking for me, I try to find neutral, unbiased information, on those sparse occasions when I do “read News.” I also sometimes scan a daily email message I receive from 1440. I’ll give you exactly one guess what their mission is.

…We set up our political and social filter bubbles and they reinforce themselves – the things we read and watch have become hyper-niche and cater to our specific interests. We go down rabbit holes of special interests until we’re lost in the queen’s garden, cursing everyone above ground.

Mat Honan, I Liked Everything I Saw on Facebook for Two Days, Wired 

So, again this was difficult to write and if it’s not my best blog, that’s why. Upshot: I encourage you to seek sound, reputable information, in everything you do!

Thanks for reading?

Your friend,

Rock Rockstead is – despite your protests to the contrary – an author, blogger, artist and professional procrastinator. He has been promising website and social media links would appear here, but this is now being published on the website so that’s moot – let’s not speak of it again. Insert something witty here instead…hmm.