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Thread: Deception

  1. #1
    Super Moderator Quest's Avatar
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    Deception

    I put this here because a while back we had a discussion about denominations and doctrinal divisions that are significant and feel this is a big part of that same issue.

    In another thread the issue of fact challenging came up and I ran across an article that IMHO is alarming and true..as Christians I believe we all know this because we see people locked into doctrines that seem so obviously wrong..or political positions that seem baffling...

    Even scripture WARNS us to be aware of our tendency to deception...Now I understand the article seems to target Conservatives but try to put that aside and focus on the concept of holding even more tightly to our beliefs when challenged...

    Comments? How aware are you of your own propensity to deception..what steps do you take to try to avoid it?



    The Misconception: When your beliefs are challenged with facts, you alter your opinions and incorporate the new information into your thinking.

    The Truth: When your deepest convictions are challenged by contradictory evidence, your beliefs get stronger.

    Wired, The New York Times, Backyard Poultry Magazine – they all do it. Sometimes, they screw up and get the facts wrong. In ink or in electrons, a reputable news source takes the time to say “my bad.”


    If you are in the news business and want to maintain your reputation for accuracy, you publish corrections. For most topics this works just fine, but what most news organizations don’t realize is a correction can further push readers away from the facts if the issue at hand is close to the heart. In fact, those pithy blurbs hidden on a deep page in every newspaper point to one of the most powerful forces shaping the way you think, feel and decide – a behavior keeping you from accepting the truth.


    In 2006, Brendan Nyhan and Jason Reifler at The University of Michigan and Georgia State University created fake newspaper articles about polarizing political issues. The articles were written in a way which would confirm a widespread misconception about certain ideas in American politics. As soon as a person read a fake article, researchers then handed over a true article which corrected the first. For instance, one article suggested the United States found weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. The next said the U.S. never found them, which was the truth. Those opposed to the war or who had strong liberal leanings tended to disagree with the original article and accept the second. Those who supported the war and leaned more toward the conservative camp tended to agree with the first article and strongly disagree with the second. These reactions shouldn’t surprise you. What should give you pause though is how conservatives felt about the correction. After reading that there were no WMDs, they reported being even more certain than before there actually were WMDs and their original beliefs were correct.


    Continue reading here...http://youarenotsosmart.com/2011/06/...ckfire-effect/

  2. #2
    Super Moderator Quest's Avatar
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    IMHO it takes a LOT of humility and a LOT of courage to allow ourselves to consider challenges to our strongest held beliefs and yet even the Bible tells us to 'test the spirits'.

  3. #3
    Senior Member Colonel's Avatar
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    "Guard your heart above all things for from it flows life" is how I remember a verse from the OT. It sums up a lot written in the NT and serves as a fundament for getting and staying in line with the truth.

  4. #4
    Quote Originally Posted by Quest View Post
    IMHO it takes a LOT of humility and a LOT of courage to allow ourselves to consider challenges to our strongest held beliefs and yet even the Bible tells us to 'test the spirits'.
    Yep like you do on divorce :)

    And thats my first and last contribution to this thread

  5. #5
    Super Moderator Quest's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Colonel View Post
    "Guard your heart above all things for from it flows life" is how I remember a verse from the OT. It sums up a lot written in the NT and serves as a fundament for getting and staying in line with the truth.
    Thank you Colonel for responding to the OP..

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    Super Moderator Quest's Avatar
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    1 John 4:1
    Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

    What was disturbing in the article is MOST disturbing because it's recognizable in the world and the church..how when speaking truth to someone such as the alcoholic and you realize they have become more bound..a certain guardedness arises almost like feeling threatened.

    Seems to me it comes from a root of fear?

    For instance a cessationist is given scriptures that contradict that belief and they refuse to even discuss the topic..

    Dr Leaf pointed out that when a built memory which contains thoughts and emotions is 'summoned from the subconscious' our response to that memory, whether it's to push it back to the subconscious or search out the matter further, that memory will ALWAYS be altered. So when someone is challenged on a belief that memory is summoned and either we allow what we hear to be contemplated without fear or some other negative emotions it can change it for the better, but if fear or that other negative emotion is given the focus that memory goes back into the subconscious reinforced..

  7. #7
    Senior Member Colonel's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Quest View Post
    Thank you Colonel for responding to the OP..
    CatchyReply

    (just kidding)


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