Has being on TOL changed your worldview on any issue?
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A few thoughts on how the last few years at TOL has helped to shape my thinking. While TOL hasn't been the only avenue of information for me, it's certainly had a major impact that can't be discounted:
I no longer trust conservative talk radio to tell me the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I realized I'd been lulled into believing that if a conservative talking head said something, it must be true and accurate...because it was said by a conservative. I was guilty of confirmation bias long before I ever made a thread on confirmation bias - and I didn't even know it. And as often as I complained about liberal bias, I didn't see that biased conservative talk show hosts were every bit as capable of distorting and magnifying or minimizing, e.g. manipulating information as they said liberals did. So came the understanding that I, along with millions of listeners, was being manipulated, and I stopped listening.
I'm much more cynical about the ability and intent of conservative politicians to actually pursue any conservative objective. I once thought my vote or my phone call made a difference. How naive...
I switched my voter registration from Republican to Independent/Unaffiliated. For what it's worth.
While I believe, based on my religious beliefs, that marriage should be between one man and one woman, I understand that we're heading toward a civil recognition of same-sex marriage. Those who would castigate me for not being irate enough to call for re-criminalization of homosexuality in response are likely the same ones who consider our Constitution and representative republic God-ordained - except when it doesn't go in the direction they want it to go.
I understand much better now that hatred can be exhibited easily and comfortably - even enthusiastically - by some Christians even as they quote Scripture. That's been one of the biggest lessons TOL has taught me...I'd long thought the left exaggerated those claims of Christian hatred and bigotry. Now...not so much.
Having been in support of it in the beginning (due in large part to my over-dependence on conservative talk radio to shape my opinion) I now consider the war in Iraq to be a colossal mistake that has destroyed countless lives, cost billions of dollars, and damaged American credibility around the globe while never meeting the criteria for a just war.
While I'm no fan of Obamacare as it was written or implemented, our current health care system needed major reform wrt insurance fraud, insurance premiums, and lack of adequate safety nets for those in need of medical care and unable to pay for it. Just saying no to government funding for necessary and humane care for its citizens isn't the answer. There is good and just cause for the taxation necessary to provide for basic care and decent infrastructure and somewhere in there compromise and balance is needed.
So. That's an incomplete list, but it's a start.
Welcome back to reality, annabeneditti!
On the plus side, for me, being on TOL has helped to convince and illuminate me further on what I have always believed about "Christ": that love and forgiveness is real, and when it's expressed one to another, it really does heal us and save us from ourselves. Just as Christ assured us it would. And not even all the ignorance, hatred, and bile of the many confused, wounded, and angry "Christians" here on TOL can turn that light into darkness. I'm more grateful than ever for the revelation of God's love through Christ and no amount of name-calling, bad-repping, and willful ignorance can change that for me.
In fact, it just highlights the amazing example of those posters on TOL who have the eyes to see, the minds to understand, and the hearts to really care about their fellow human beings. I aspire to what they have. And I thank them for their example.
In fact, it just highlights the amazing example of those posters on TOL who have the eyes to see, the minds to understand, and the hearts to really care about their fellow human beings. I aspire to what they have. And I thank them for their example.
There are some really wonderful people here who have made a difference in my life. I'm very glad to have found TOL for that reason in particular.
There are some really wonderful people here who have made a difference in my life. I'm very glad to have found TOL for that reason in particular.
Often, I think it's the only reason I stick around.
Thinking back on the OP, and Anna's "new" OP (), is it bad that I'm getting more and more cynical?
Eucharist [thanksgiving] is the state of the perfect man. Eucharist is the life of paradise. Eucharist is the only full and real response of man to God's creation, redemption, and gift of heaven. - Alexander Schemann
Slogan/motto:
A thousand times I've failed, still Your mercy remains.
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April 16th, 2013, 09:32 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by annabenedetti
Have you changed your views on any issue somewhat, a lot, or 180 degrees as a result of the debates here, whether it be politics, religion, both, or other?
As many people here know, TOL didn't just change my views - it changed my life.
At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
TOL made me more open about my views and also made me more distrustful of other viewpoints. TOL is where true colors come out. other boards have a lot of regulations where open opinions are squashed.
Kett's cell phone alter ego
Last edited by Dorcas Wode; April 17th, 2013 at 09:26 AM.
Often, I think it's the only reason I stick around.
), is it bad that I'm getting more and more cynical?
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