From ignorance to arrogance

I was happy to read an article recently about why we are increasingly unaware of our ignorance and why it is a big problem. It caught my attention because that is also my observation. In fact, in many of my columns, I have expressed that fear at least implicitly.

The main argument of the article is that we have become so sure of our opinions that they now become our convictions and core beliefs, as if other opinions are completely wrong.

Opinions now are considered to be absolute such that there cannot anymore be a variety of legitimate, differing, or conflicting opinions. A person's opinions are now held as gospel truths.

The article went on to say opinions considered as gospel truths can obviously attract like-minded people, and when they acquire a critical mass, that is when these opinions become the absolute truths for them. That is when ignorance of the absolute truth who is God becomes invincible and can easily fall into arrogance.

We have to be careful about our opinions and distinguish between an opinion that can never cover everything about a particular issue, and what is a matter of absolute truth that can come only from God as revealed by Christ, and that touches on what is truly essential in our life.

Especially these days when we are bombarded with an increasing number of issues, data, and information to tackle, we need to have a good hold of our horses to avoid mixing opinions with absolute and essential truths.

We must have detachment from our opinions, no matter how strongly we feel about them, so we can give due attention to other opinions, especially those that are different or opposed to ours.

In our discussions, let us always try to be civil and courteous. Opinions are no absolute truths, don't promote or defend them at the expense of charity.

The usual problem we encounter is that we tend to make our opinions the only right position. This is outright wrong. We would be falling into what St. Paul once said of those who are "ever learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth." (2 Tim 3,7) We can feel we have the truth because of the data and information we have, but we still miss the point.

We have to be wary of what looks like a common trend now to assert our opinions to death. And this is not only in politics, but more so in faith and morals. We need to be protected from the subtle, silent osmotic effect this trend can have on us.

We have to know how not to be quickly taken by the easy accessibility and speed of the internet in giving us information and sharing our opinions.

In this regard, we have to strengthen our prudence and tact. But, alas, how many are really thinking about these virtues today? In fact, in many talk shows especially in the US, bashing and mudslinging have become a standard practice. Disagreements are not anymore civil.

Let us teach the young ones the true art of opinionmaking and of civil and charitable discussions. We need to teach the kids how to distinguish between mere opinion and absolute truth, and where we can have the former and where to find the latter.

‘We must have detachment from our opinions, no matter how strongly we feel about them, so we can give due attention to other opinions.’