Do You Think Independently?

Don't let them make you think you're thinking independently. 

With easy access to social media today, there's a strong tendency to simply go along with whatever is in trend--gossip, bashing, personal interests or opinion, and even the news--and they tell you how listening to them makes you an independent thinker. News today is usually whatever interest or propaganda a news agency or journalist is supporting. And people just mindlessly take that in. This is where you need to be a non-joiner. 

Photo by Ante Hamersmit on Unsplash.

Just because something is in the news reported by a mainstream or popular news service doesn't necessarily mean it's outright factual. It may be based on facts or reliable information but it's apt to be infested with twists and add-ons to suit a particular partisan interest, like big pharma, politics, religion, big business and the like. 

You Decide What's "Impartial"

So you need to bear this in mind. There's no real "impartial" or "objective" journalism. Even honest ones are apt to have subjective shades to it, because news reporters and writers are human. So are their editors, though they may try to be as objective and impersonal as possible. But it's good that they try.

So what's the lesson here? 

Get all sides and then decide for yourself. Don't just take their word for it. Don't let others decide for you or just ride on the bandwagon. What you conclude in the end should be what you see as truth. Your bias. And then keep that truth to yourself, and possibly your family. Don't go out and broadcast or engage. Just make sure you do your research--get all sides of an argument, as it were. As many sides as possible. 

What History Should You Believe?

Like the so-called Marcos ill-gotten wealth, martial law and EDSA Revolution. Or how the Aquinos performed in office, how Leni fared as VP or the issue on Cory Aquino and the Carmelite sisters. They're all trying to present their own versions today, their own "truths." Read about them, listen to testimonies, and try to dig deeper if you have the time, and then decide open-mindedly. No emotions, not even for the sake of nationalism. 

Truth knows no nationality.

Non-joiners have the ability to make unbiased, intelligent decisions through practice. Learn to weigh things fairly each time, remaining disinterested in any issue to get at truth as much as possible. I sometimes still get tangled emotionally with partisanship, but manage to discipline myself and snap out of it--because it's so vital, to keep your mind clear and healthy. You do it because you love yourself. 

Respect Others' Biases

Most folks are rabidly biased, you can be sure of that 99.99 percent of the time, though they'd insist they're not. It's impossible to be unbiased without being a trained non-joiner like Jesus. Nonetheless, you need to respect others' biases, though they won't yours. Yeah, you have a lil bit of bias in you though you may deny it--but it's true. No matter if you're a non-joiner. We all have it. Even God has bias, for obvious reasons. He's not neutral about sin.

But keep your bias as little and less obvious as possible. Your bias is not important to others. Don't think they're interested to hear about it. Don't insist on them except when people who love to control others start imposing their biases on you. Respecting their bias doesn't mean you approve them or give them space in your mind. It simply means you let them be, hanging on to their biases as much as they want without challenging them. To each his or her own. De gustibus non est disputandum.

How to Think Independently

Here's my take for thinking independently:

1. Research well before you believe something.
2. Keep things to yourself, except when questioned.
3. Ignore those who challenge your bias. No one becomes smarter just because he has a "better" bias. They just think they're smarter. They're not. 
4. Keep reading different stuff, especially the bible.
5. When people begin to wonder about your bias and, of their own accord, ask you about it, be willing to share (but do not insist. Stay disinterested).  It will happen. Your quiet stubborn preference will naturally surface conspicuously and prod some people to ask. It happened to Jesus. It happens to me.

I have a deep bias for Jesus and his teachings. No matter what detractors say, I keep a narrow (or zoom-in) focus on Jesus. Yup, I guess you may say I'm too narrow-minded when it comes to my leaning or bias for Jesus. And nothing can change that, not even those who say they're for Jesus but actually aren't. I'm an independent thinker. Are you?