Is the greatest creator of division in R&S (& society) beliefs, or social skill deficits, or something else?

Question

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There are many good answers here (all the way to the bottom of the page). I'm having difficulty choosing a best answer, so I'm throwing it out for a vote.

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Answer 1

Education (or lack thereof).

Answer 2

It's a lack of critical thinking skills. Plain and simple.

Think about how many children are never taught HOW to think critically. It's understandable because most children are INSTRUCTED by their parents. They're never taught how to question for themselves. The evidence is incontrovertible. Today more than ever, the average adult simply accepts what they're told, mainly because most of their information comes delivered in some pseudo credible format - television, radio, print, and (the worst offender) the internet. But also,

The old saying, "don't believe everything you read" was valid in they heyday of newspapers, so why isn't it valid for the internet? Is it because people have so little understanding of their computers, or do they simply assume that anything that appears on such a sophisticated device must be the truth? Perhaps it's because their attention spans have shrunk so much that all information, whether true or false, is discarded as fast as it's consumed.

As a child, I questioned EVERYTHING. I took the default stance that people were self-serving, and that most people, even parents and teachers, had an hidden agenda. I rarely believed anything because a single person said it.

I read voraciously. I studied. I researched, and I TRIED things. I took stuff apart. I asked questions. I experimented, and most importantly, as a young adult I kept the following mantra in mind at all times, "EVERY contrivance, every human creation, no matter how complex or impressive, was made by a man (or woman), and if they could figure it, I can figure it out."

The number one reason people don't question convention (i.e. religion) is because it's DIFFICULT. Being critical is HARD WORK. It takes tremendous effort and tenacity to seek the truth 24 hours a day, seven days a week, especially when the truth is being hidden deliberately. It's also often times PAINFUL to discover, particularly when you find out you've built your entire life on a false belief.

It's entirely understandable that religious people don't want to test their own faith, and that they want everyone else to follow their beliefs. This is the safest, most comfortable path to follow. It goes back to childhood. They'd rather be INSTRUCTED as to what is right, wrong, true or false. They've been conditioned to learn this way. But the reality is that the only reward from taking this easy road is that it's easy. Who would willingly choose to make his or her life more difficult than it need be?

The division in R&S essentially boils down to those who defer the pain of uncertainty though self-deception, and those who accept the pain as part of the maturity package of life. Some people want a parent forever, even it's an imaginary one.

Answer 3

Education come in many forms. Have you ever heard of the "chittlin IQ test" or "The Ozark Mountains IQ test"?

Societal beliefs come from an education in "survival".

Social skills come from an educations in "smoothness"; to act in a way that does not expose your rough edges.

Answer 4

Lack of social skills.

People will always be different. If you only get along with people who are the same as you, then you obviously have no social skills, because that is easy.

Answer 5

The lack of social skills. If it's beliefs at all, it's the misunderstanding of beliefs. I get along just fine with most people who believe differently than I do. It's all about mutual respect.

Answer 6

Beliefs - too many people view others as intolerant. Whether atheists, Wicca, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, or whatever we seem to have trouble seeing outside our own truths to accept and listen to the truths of others. It has interested me when people pick best answers how often they pick someone they agree with. It makes honest dialog very difficult.

Pastor John

Answer 7

The greatest creator of division in R/S and in real life society is the personality trait of thinking one is right so others are wrong and acting on that...

Answer 8

The greatest creator of division is the meat which encases our souls. All understand, that once the meat is stripped away, the soul will be force-merged into all, and thus no division will exist. The convergence of souls is the great equalizer....the meat casings are the great dividers.

Answer 9

Something else and it's called ignorance. Have you ever noticed that ignorance looks like it might come from the word ignore? Changes things a little , huh?

Answer 10

Lack of respect.

Answer 11

I sense you have a beef with division in society?