Critical Thinking and the Need for Christ
Who would’ve thought that a book on critical thinking could arouse feelings of longing and theological reflection? While I know it was meant to be a practical handbook, The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking Concepts and Tools hit me at a heart and soul level—like combination romance novel/theological inquiry. Alas, in the day of Tweets and Facebook Posts, where image and perception take precedence over reason, evidence, or logic, critical thinking seems to have vanished from public discourse. How I wish that “Excellence in thought” was not only “systematically cultivated” in our media, but also celebrated.[1] Instead we cater to the lowest common denominator, where egocentrism is encouraged and personal biases are held up as absolute truths.
The idealistic world of critical thinking, as Paul and Elder present it, does require a dose of faith. Indeed, I’m not sure that humans have the capacity to “overcome our native egocentrism and sociocentrism” apart from having found our identity in the all-sufficiency of Christ.[2] They almost get to preaching when they say, “Intellectual humility depends on recognizing that one should not claim more than one actually knows.”[3] To this I say a hearty, “Amen!” But what about those poor souls who have not yet found the means to overcome the egoism and sociocentrism that plague them? For them, some of these critical thinking concepts will go beyond the realm of romance to science fiction.
I remember being confronted with my own sociocentrism when I first moved to France. (If I’m honest, it still smacks me in the face from time to time). One year, we woke up at 2 am to watch our beloved Seahawks play in the Super Bowl. Of course, we were watching on French TV, so we didn’t get the American commercials. To make the experience complete, we went online to view the commercials the following day, only to find that a particular Coca-Cola ad had caused quite an uproar. Have a look at it here:
America the Beautiful was sung in multiple different languages by people from a variety of different ethnic backgrounds, and this, to some, was offensive. It brought out what Time magazine called “America the Ugly,” as evidenced by a number of tweets with an “’English or GTFO’ sentiment.”[4] I remember also having a negative reaction to the commercial, but for a totally different reason! I couldn’t believe Americans could be so sociocentric to believe that people from all of over the world, of every tongue and tribe, would be inclined to sing the praises of their country. To me, it was the equivalent of watching a commercial where uniformed Burger King, Chick-fil-A, and Taco Bell employees sing a McDonald’s jingle! It’s not Mc Donald’s fans who should be offended—it’s all the other guys.
Sociocentrism is at odds with critical thinking as much as it is at odds with Kingdom values. Paul and Elder write, “Most people do not understand the degree to which they have uncritically internalized the dominant prejudices of their society or culture.”[5] The USAmerican bias towards English as not only a national language, but an international language, made it challenging for certain citizens to hear a beloved hymn in foreign tongues. To them it was a form of blasphemy. A core quality of sociocentrism is the tendency to take on a groups’ norms and identities “without the least sense that what we are doing might reasonably be questioned.”[6] USAmericans are known worldwide for being monolingual, and many wear this like a badge of honor. But what is so great about only speaking English? What is our resistance to other languages? Can we reasonably question this value? I’ve long wondered why USAmericans are adverse to the idea of becoming a bilingual country. Wouldn’t making Spanish a second national language enrich our culture and honor our heritage? Critical thinking allows us to ask these questions, demands that we ask these questions. But they tend to hit a nerve, an emotional, gut level nerve that short circuits critical thinking.
What’s the answer? Paul and Elder say that sociocentric thinking can only be diminished “when replaced by cross-cultural, fairminded thinking.”[7]But they offer no insights or advice on how one might go about developing cross-cultural, fairminded thinking. The humanist might suggest world travel. The pragmatist in me says, “Well you could watch BBC instead of Fox News, for starters!” But the flaw is in such thinking is revealed in Paul and Elder’s earlier claim that our egocentrism and sociocentrism are “native” to us. Indeed, they are part of our sin nature. The solution isn’t found creating “critical societies,” it’s found in surrender to Christ.
This is why the picture painted by Revelation 7:9 is so amazing, for only in Christ can we be set from our egocentrism and sociocentrism, and long to be part of a multitude “from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.”[8]
[1] Richard Paul and Linda Elder, Thinker’s Guide Library (Dillon Beach, CA: Foundation for Critical Thinking, 2006). Loc 37
[2] Paul and Elder. Loc 48
[3] Paul and Elder. Loc 184
[4] James Poniewozik, “Coca-Cola’s ‘It’s Beautiful’ Super Bowl Ad Brings Out Some Ugly Americans,” Time, February 2, 2014, http://time.com/3773/coca-colas-its-beautiful-super-bowl-ad-brings-out-some-ugly-americans/.
[5] Paul and Elder, Thinker’s Guide Library. Loc 279
[6] Paul and Elder. Loc 279
[7] Paul and Elder. Loc 288
[8] “Bible Gateway Passage: Revelation 7:9 – New International Version,” Bible Gateway, accessed November 2, 2017, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation+7%3A9&version=NIV.
About the Author
Jennifer Williamson
Jenn Williamson is a wife and mother of two adult sons. Before moving to France in 2010, she was the women's pastor at Life Center Foursquare Church in Spokane, WA. As a missionary with Greater Europe Mission, she is involved in church planting and mentoring emerging leaders. Jenn benefitted from French mentors during her transition to the field, and recognizes that cross-cultural ministry success depends on being well integrated into the host culture. Academic research into missionary sustainability and cultural adaptation confirmed her own experience and gave her the vision to create Elan, an organization aimed at helping missionaries transition to the field in France through the participation of French partners.9 responses to “Critical Thinking and the Need for Christ”
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Great Blog. There were so many thoughts and quotes within this book that get me thinking about other people and I really had to stop and begin to think how this relates to me. You wrote,“But the flaw is in such thinking is revealed in Paul and Elder’s earlier claim that our egocentrism and sociocentrism are “native” to us.” I agree that we are products of our upbringing and culture, but how do we keep that from being an excuse, a rational for the behaviors and attitudes of those around us? By the way, my own socio-centric moments (culture shock moments) hit me strong when I am traveling.
This summer my son visited a University and was told that if he wanted to try out for choir that he could sing a familiar song like America the beautiful. He told the admission rep that he didn’t know that song. She looked puzzled as to why he wouldn’t know what she considered to be a common song. I will admit I watched the TV commercial and thought it a unique way to express the melting pot that makes up Americans, but also knew that it would cause some to be angry. A reminder that even today, I should be challenged to see beyond the my nation and culture, and the assumptions we make about daily life and living Christ-like.
Hey Greg, when I said that sociocentrism is “native” to us, I wasn’t only thinking in terms of upbrining and culture, but in terms of our fallen sin nature. We have been “looking out for number 1” long before “America First” became a slogan (showing how egocentrism easily translates into sociocentrism). In this way, I don’t see it as an excuse, but just a diagnosis. And the cure is multi-faceted, but ineffective unless and until we begin with a heart transplant (Christ’s heart for mine!). But of course it takes more than that. Humbly learning from other people groups, breaking down barriers, seeking reconciliation, making restitution as needed…all of these will help to heal us of the disease of sociocentrism. The problem is most people don’t know they even have the disease.
Hi Jennifer,
It probably comes as no surprise that I LOVED YOUR BLOG. It speaks to my heart of American arrogance and ignorance regarding other cultures. I agree with your point that Spanish as an accepted language in this country would enhance our country – not hinder it. I am impressed how Canada navigates two languages and couldn’t believe South Africa recognizes 11 official languages! I found your statement “The idealistic world of critical thinking, as Paul and Elder present it, does require a dose of faith” interesting. One of the research articles I read when I wrote my blog this week discussed the idea that the more someone critically thinks, the more likely they are to become atheists. Essentially, if you “pick apart” the Bible and faith, you find gaps and deficiencies in the history and writers. Did you come across this as well?
Really good questions, Jean. In fact, I have gone through many crises of faith as I go deeper and deeper into the study of theology and Christian history. It felt wrong, in some ways, to apply critical thinking skills to sacred texts and traditions. I understood why an uncle of mine became an atheist after going to seminary. Our faith is not as neat and tidy as your avaerage, run of the mill church goer would like to believe. And while I hope most Christians have thought critically about their faith (enough so that they have made an informed decision), I don’t think every believer needs to be confronted with all of the challenges that we discover when we do get to “picking apart the text.” This is because I trust the Holy Spirit to guide people into Truth just as much as I trust that the Holy Spirit inspired both the writers of scripture and the canonization process.
But I have come to believe that for most people of faith, atheism isn’t the final destination of the critical thinking process, but a road stop along the way deeper faith. It’s that point in the spiritual journey where the seed falls into the ground and dies before it springs forth with new life. Some lay domant for longer than others, but in time, Christ brings that faith back to life. It was true for me. I hope this will be true of my uncle.
I often tell people that going to Seminary didn’t give my any satisfying answers, it just helped me to get comfortable with my questions. So I think critically, analyze, wrestle, question, but in the end, it’s called “faith” for a reason. And that’s where logic will always leave me wanting. Because some of the answers that make the most sense don’t satisfy the longings of the soul.
Jennifer,
I am back in the US and still lagging from the travel and time change. Nevertheless, I “hear” your heart’s frustration and grief over egocentrism and personal subjectivism, which are now being heralded as new globalized “absolute truths.” What a shame!
Mission is messy. That’s what I learned and share with new missionaries as we prepare them for the field. It is messy for many reasons, but most of all due to our struggles in resisting Satan. There, I said it. No beating around the bush, no sugar coating, no egocentric wrappers, and no sociocentric labels. I did try the “Checklist for Reasoning” and found that it was adaptable from a theological point of view.
In support of your Revelations reference, I believe we are facing the globalized end-time schemes of the devil. While I agree we need the right vocabulary, approach, plan, and way to deliver the hard news while bringing the “good-news” we must march on. Thanks for sharing your eschatological reflections about the world “standing before the throne and before the Lamb.”
I am focusing on a missionary context in my critical thinking comments because your research question asks why are missionaries leaving the field prematurely. I would enjoy trading our field-experiences on this phenomenon. Ultimately, as you said in your comments to my post, we know the source of the problem, and the only real solution is found “in Christ.”
Stand firm,
M. Webb
Thanks, Mike. Yes mission is messy, and Satan is the author of the mess, though some people help his efforts along, both knowingly and unknowingly. I guess that I hope that critical thinking, coupled with surrender to the person of Jesus Christ, can help those who, by their egocentrism and sociocentrism, are unwittingly serving the enemy’s puposes.
I too was saying a resounding amen to the concept of intellectual humility, mostly because I feel many of us Americans lack it. I was also very moved by the commercial you shared and was not offended at all by the multiethnic nature of it, but did not think of it from the perspective of all those nations singing our national anthem. This was very insightful and I look forward to that day described in Revelation when we all stand before the throne and sing in one voice to the King of Kings. I’m curious about your approach to dealing with sociocentrism in your context. Great post once again Jenn!
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