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Critical Thinking: The Secret Weapon of Confident Christians

By Jason Jiminez
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by Jason Jiminez | Apr 10, 2024 | Theology and Christian Apologetics

As Christians, developing critical thinking skills and maintaining an informed understanding of our faith is crucial. The world is full of misinformation and uncertainty, making it difficult to distinguish truth from falsehood. It is not enough for Christians to blindly adhere to whatever traditions or practices they have inherited from the past. They should critically evaluate and discern the relevance and validity of these traditions in their present context.

With so many different worldviews competing for our attention, staying engaged and equipped with our beliefs is essential. Without the intellectual stamina to navigate these opposing views, we risk becoming uninformed and ill-prepared to face the challenges of contemporary society.

The Age of Competing Ideas

In a recent interview with John Stonestreet, president of the Colson Center, I asked him why so many Christians lack the ability to think critically. His initial response was that many Christians lack the proper training in biblical doctrine and have not been catechized in the basic categories of reality. John added,

“We live in a world where we are bombarded with a lot of information, most of which is not objective or neutral. This makes it difficult to determine what to believe and whom to trust. Therefore, this era is better called ‘The Age of Competing Ideas,’ which leads to ‘The Age of Competing Authority.’”

I have seen firsthand how a lack of critical thinking about one’s faith can leave a Christian susceptible to false teachings or worldly philosophies. Paul warned in Colossians 2:8 , “Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ” (NLT).

We are exhorted by the apostle Paul to “Test everything; hold fast what is good” ( 1 Thessalonians 5:21 ). Christianity is not about unquestioningly accepting things without using reasoning and intellect. Instead, it is about having faith while also engaging your mind.

Not Just Belief, but Informed Belief

Therefore, we must recognize the role of informed beliefs in Christianity and draw on the biblical foundations of critical thinking to equip ourselves with the knowledge necessary to distinguish truth from falsehood.

Critical thinking is a systematic skill that involves analyzing and assessing a particular belief, idea, argument, or issue in an unbiased manner. After thoroughly examining the subject matter, the individual arrives at a conclusion that makes the most sense of and aligns with reality. In Christianity, possessing a biblical worldview means approaching life matters with an understanding of the Word of God and proper discernment that aligns with biblical doctrine.

I like what David Dockery says about the quality of Christians possessing a robust worldview in his book What Does It Mean to Be a Thoughtful Christian? . Dockery writes,

“A Christian worldview is not escapism but an energizing motivation for godly and faithful thinking and living in the here-and-now. In the midst of life’s challenges and struggles, a Christian worldview provides confidence and hope for the future while helping to stabilize life, serving as an anchor to link us to God’s faithfulness and steadfastness.”

Three Critical Thinking Skills

Applying these three foundational tips in your daily life is an excellent start for developing the art and skill of critical thinking.

Know and pursue truth wisely: Truth is an objective reality that corresponds with, rather than contradicts, the actual state of things. By analyzing, observing, and submitting to objective truth, you will become more aware of the facts that support your Christian beliefs. Proverbs 4:7 advises, “The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.” Solomon emphasizes the importance of pursuing wisdom as you acquire knowledge and understanding to overcome life’s challenges as a Christian.
Stay grounded in God’s Word: Sadly, less than 20% of self-proclaimed Christians read the Bible daily. Of those who do, the majority only read one verse a day. Reading portions of the Bible daily will enhance your knowledge of Scripture, provide moral fortitude, give insight into wise decision-making, and help you resist temptations.
Embrace questions and objections: Christians should be the last to shy away from people who object to or challenge their faith. Peter directly speaks to this when he affirms, “But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15). Don’t be afraid when someone asks you tough questions about your beliefs. Be prepared to explain why you believe in what you do. If you don’t know the answer to a question, make an effort to research and understand the material. Studying and understanding the material thoroughly will enable you to communicate effectively with others. Lastly, remember always to be respectful towards others, even if their beliefs differ from yours.

I hope you have been challenged to continue developing your critical thinking skills. This will not only keep you informed and prevent you from being deceived, but it will also increase your passion for God’s truth and enable you to become a great defender of the Christian faith. We need more defenders of the faith, and I believe you have the potential to become one!

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The 7 Checks of Critical Thinking

Picture this: you’re sitting in a classroom, scrolling social media, or watching TV when you encounter an argument you’ve never heard before against a teaching from Scripture, like the six-day creation. 1 Biblically, you know the argument can’t be true. Yet it sounds so . . . persuasive! What do you do?

Don’t panic when you hear a faith-challenging message. God’s Word is true, so anything that contradicts it must be false.
Break the message down with the “7 Checks of Critical Thinking.”
Follow up on any remaining questions you have by consulting God, biblical mentors, and trusted apologetics resources. 3

So, what are those “7 Checks of Critical Thinking” for breaking down any message? Let’s take a look.

1. Check Scripture

God ’s Word is our authority for truth, because God is the only One who has always been there, who knows everything, who cannot lie, and who reveals the big picture of reality through the Bible . That’s why God ’s Word is the only sure foundation for our thinking in everything. So, when we hear any new message, the first question to ask is, “How does this message compare with Scripture?”

Of course, before we can answer that, we need a deep familiarity with what the Bible says. This reality highlights the importance of spiritual foundations —personally knowing God and His Word, which Christian students I’ve met worldwide said was so important for keeping their faith at university.

2. Check the Challenge

Sometimes, as you compare a message against Scripture, you realize it doesn’t challenge a non-negotiable doctrine of Scripture, like the existence of Adam. 4 Instead, it addresses a negotiable side-issue, like the question of how many Magi visited Jesus . A few questions can help you discern whether a message opposes a non-negotiable doctrine:

Does the message conflict with a clear teaching from Scripture?
Does it conflict with the big picture of what the Bible teaches?
Does it conflict with the way most Christians have interpreted the Bible for thousands of years?

3. Check the Source

Another important question to ask is where is this information coming from ? What is the source’s credibility? Are they an expert in a relevant field? 5 What’s their worldview starting point— God ’s Word or man’s word? Could they have other motives for sharing this message? How was the information collected? Is it being reported accurately?

4. Check the Definitions

The next step is to clarify the definitions used for any keywords in the message. Many words carry multiple meanings or mean different things to different people. So, when I heard certain words like person , science , or evolution , I always found it helpful to think about how that word was being used, and whether its meaning subtly switched during the course of the message. If you do notice a word’s meaning switch, you’ve detected a logical fallacy called equivocation .

5. Check for Propaganda

Now, it’s time to sort out fact from propaganda, which tries to persuade by appealing to something besides logic—like emotions, aesthetics, or the human desire for acceptance. To catch propaganda, ask “Why does this message sound true? Is it trying to persuade based on logic, or on something else? Is that “something else” relevant to the message’s truth?”

6. Check the Interpretations

With propaganda out of the way, you should be left with just the facts—and their interpretations. The facts are the parts of the message we can observe in the present using the scientific method. But other parts of the message may be interpretations of those facts based on assumptions about the past, which we can’t directly observe. 6 So, to separate fact from interpretations, I always found it helpful to ask, “What are the assumptions behind this message, and what’s another way to explain the same observations from a biblical perspective?”

7. Check the Logic

At this point, you will have already caught many potential fallacies in a message. But there could still be other flawed logic lurking behind the facts. So, now’s the time to do a final check for other forms of faulty reasoning, including circular reasoning , straw man arguments , or formal fallacies . Ask, “Are there any other errors in reasoning that should make me think twice before believing this message?”

There’s a lot more to say about each of these checks, but this summary presents an overview of the critical thinking framework which helped me during university—and which can help any Christian navigate secular classrooms or culture. For more on how to think critically about any faith-challenging message, stay tuned for future blog articles and CT (Critical Thinking) Scan videos, coming soon to a screen near you!

For more about why a literal interpretation matters for biblical doctrine, see https://answersingenesis.org/why-does-creation-matter/ .
For more on evolution and why evolutionary origins are incompatible with a biblical worldview, see https://answersingenesis.org/evolution/ .
Answersingenesis.org is a great place to start, with resources including free articles , videos , online books , and a web store .
For more about why non-negotiable doctrines hinge on Adam’s existence, see https://answersingenesis.org/adam-and-eve/ .
Beware, though: even experts can believe wrong information and, like everyone else, are biased by the worldviews they start with.
For more on the difference between observational and historical science, see https://answersingenesis.org/what-is-science/what-is-science/ .
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Bible Nerd Society

Why critical thinking is important for christians (and how to introduce it to your church), "it's critical to think critically, but don't be critical of those who don’t.".

I have been in church my entire life. I don’t remember where, but I do remember once being told that Christians should not think critically, because it’s never the right thing to be “critical” of others.

Oh boy, do we, as the church, still have our work cut out for us.

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The Battle for the Bible Belt: The Forgotten Art of Christian Scholarship

It’s been said that it is easier to develop wholly committed Christians in areas of the world that are more liberal than others.

For example, a Christian living out the truths of God’s Word in California or New York is going to be a bit more noticeable than the same person doing so in the hills of North Carolina.

Don’t misunderstand me, the effects of sin are plenty noticeable here in North Carolina (plenty in the church, too).

But in the so-called “Bible Belt,” Christians are “a dime a dozen.” “Everybody’s” a Christian, “everybody” goes to church, “everybody” grew up in church, etc.

I used to think that God wanted my family to be full-time in ministry traveling to other places, and maybe he’ll lead us in that direction in the future.

For now, he has us blooming where we’ve been planted, and I’m convinced he’s right on target.

In the Southern United States, at least, there is a need to rediscover the lost art of biblical scholarship.

Christian living is important, absolutely, but there is a rational side to the Christian faith that I did not even know existed growing up.

I mean, I didn’t think to question my own faith at all until I was in my late 20’s! Until I asked the question, I always thought most Christians throughout history were somewhat like me—“good old boy” just doing his best to make it through this world.

And let me be very clear that I don’t mean to minimize that mentality. In fact, we probably need more of that, too!

Still, it’s unwise to believe something when you don’t have good reasons to believe it. You would never treat your medicine bottle that way.

Why treat your eternal destiny that way?

Defining Critical Thinking For the Rest of Us

Allow me to start with an example, then we’ll break it down.

The subheading of this article is: “It's critical to think critically, but don't be critical of those who don’t.”

Right away—without any formal training in logic—the reader is aware something is up.

A few reasons:

A fairly uncommon word (“critical”) was used multiple times in the same sentence.

You can’t quite pinpoint it, but something doesn’t seem right about the way the words are used in the sentence.

It sounds pithy. The very act of reading it elicits a curiosity to know more.

If your mind went through an exercise like that when you first opened this article (even if quite quickly), then you—for a brief moment—began to go down the road of critical thinking.

Critical thinking involves taking the time to consider that which has entered your mind. That’s really what it boils down to.

If you’d like the dictionary’s opinion, it’s the analysis of available facts, evidence, observations, and arguments to form a judgment.

So, what of my curious subtitle?

It’s a simple thing, really. There’s nothing wrong with it. But if you slow down, you see the same word being used in different ways.

Again: It's critical to think critically, but don't be critical about it.

We could reword it to: It’s important to think carefully, but don’t criticize those who don’t.

The sentence doesn’t have much meaning behind it. But that was never the point.

My point is that some people use the word in a fallacious way, called an equivocation. It’s when you trade one definition of a word for another definition of a word.

So if someone said, “You shouldn’t think critically because it’s not nice to criticize someone else,” this statement would be absurd. Critical thinking is not the same thing as criticizing.

Get to the Point, Steve

The point is that Christians—especially those from the Bible Belt and/or who have grown up in the church—do not have a habit of thinking critically.

And in a world where it’s hard to know which way is up, Christians who do not have a firm foundation for their faith will be at a serious disadvantage when they enter higher education, the workforce, etc.

(Of course, dangerous ideas persist in Kindergarten too, but hopefully I’m addressing an audience with the sense to have their kids in Christian or homeschool education of some sort, if feasible. )

Critical thinking is no longer reserved for bookworms. It’s not a “nice to have.” It’s not “for the nerds” or the “smart guys.”

If you don’t do it for yourself, do it for your children.

Our world is no safe place for folks content to wander about in the darkness.

The Real, Real Reason for Critical Thinking in Christianity

In the discipline of apologetics, 1 Peter 3:15 is often cited:

…but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.

Although I think it has broad enough application to be true when speaking in terms of pure logic, that’s not the immediate context of the passage.

The context is suffering.

To paraphrase the chapter, Peter is saying this:

In times of suffering (which we all experience), you have the opportunity to be a persuasive witness to the goodness of God. To do so, you must be ready with an answer to explain to others why you have hope in Christ in the midst of your darkest moments.

Whoa! What a perspective!

And so I ask: Does that apply to you? Are you a person who has experienced suffering? If not, do you think you ever will?

What does suffering have to do with critical thinking, though?

In the midst of suffering, even the most committed Christians often begin to doubt and question their faith.

You won’t find a more committed Christian than Peter himself, who denied the Lord on three separate occasions for fear of suffering and persecution.

When you become a critical thinker, you have the opportunity to show those in your immediate influence how God is good in the midst of suffering.

Beyond Suffering: Critical Thinking and the Church

As I mentioned, though, it goes beyond suffering.

The world is hurting not only emotionally and physically, but the world is also hurting intellectually.

“Intellectual hurt” shows up primarily in two ways:

A perceived lack of information

Rejection of information

Do we have enough information?

The word “enough” is a moving target. After all, why create more information (e.g., this very newsletter) if there is already enough information?

Nevertheless, there is “enough” information to make an informed decision to trust Christ with one’s eternal destiny.

And in fact, this is true regardless of access to the Internet, the abundance of scholarly resources, etc.

According to the Bible, there is a witness in creation (Ps. 19:1/Romans 1) and a witness in conscience (Romans 2:14-15) that renders humanity without excuse.

Put another way, it’s obvious there’s a God.

But—and more to the point of this post—it goes further than that. Most of us need not rely merely on those instincts, because we do have an abundance of resources and information which inform the veracity of our faith.

The issue is that many Christians are in the same position I was. Once the scholarly world of Christianity was revealed to me, it was like the floodgates had been opened.

But until that point, I had no idea that world even existed in the first place!

Exposing this side of Christianity to the everyday believer is a big part of what we do here. I want every Christian to be a Bible Nerd! That should be normal!

If we can do our part to awaken more Christians to the reality that there is no lack of information, we will begin to see even greater change.

What about those who have the information?

“Deconversion” is a huge trend and problem in the church.

At the core, what’s happening (at least in many cases) is that someone who grew up with the perceived lack of information eventually discovers it, but that discovery comes in the way of those questioning or attempting to refute it.

It’s quite easy to be minding your own business on YouTube or TikTok and come across someone who’s creating content about how they used to be a Christian and discovered, usually through other online influencers, that it isn’t actually true.

At this point, one of two things usually happens:

The person begins the process of critical thinking, engages scholarly resources created by Christians, and remains secure in their faith.

Or, they either (1) don’t engage those resources or (2) find them lacking, and “deconvert” from Christianity into some form of atheism or agnosticism.

(For the record, I don’t mean to oversimplify. There will be outlier cases that follow neither of the paths listed above and are much more complex. I sympathize, and am essentially summarizing trends, here.)

What can we do?

As we become ever more conscious of objections to Christianity, new arguments for the existence of God, and utilize new points of connection and technology to help shepherd people’s thought lives, I’d like to suggest a few ways we can make critical thinking a regular part of our church culture.

1. Taboo Banishment: We must encourage, allow, and even raise important and difficult questions within the church.

Do you ever get the sense that certain subject matter is just not “allowed” in church?

If you’ve never been given that impression, you are a blessed individual. Most churches—no matter how theologically mature—have “off limit” topics.

We dramatically reduce these to our benefit.

This is very important: Whatever we’re not willing to talk about, the world gets to dictate in our minds.

By definition, any conversation we do not have control over, we have forfeited control over.

Things like pornography, addiction, and yes— critical thinking —have long been dominated by secular conversation because the church isn’t willing to deal with them.

We can change that! Little by little, one small group, local church, regional fellowship, denomination, and movement at a time.

2. Pastoral Apologetics: We must approach this subject matter with an emphasis on pastoral care.

Once people do discover this side of their faith, many times, the pendulum swings the other direction and there is no emphasis on pastoral care, love, etc.

This, too, is error.

Paul was quite clear on this point:

If I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:2)

As we introduce critical thinking into our local church communities, let’s do so while ensuring we have a “God’s eye view” of people.

Theology is important and informs our beliefs. But God is concerned with people coming to know and trust him, above all.

As with most things, we should strive for balance. It is possible to come alongside a hurting person with pastoral love and care, while intellectually assuring them of God’s truth, love, and goodness.

3. The Pastor-Scholar Ideal: We must return to the “scholar as pastor” and “pastor as scholar” ideals.

This—perhaps more than anything—is needed in our churches today.

There was a time when the “smart guy” in the room was the local pastor. Can you believe that? Sadly today, there is almost the complete opposite assumption.

Many Christians are, as we discussed, missing the scholarly historical context of Christian tradition. To be a Christian was not a “backwoods southern person” thing—it was the well-respected, default mode of operation.

Much of this perception was influenced by the fact that the pastor was the scholar, and the scholar was the pastor.

This ideal is possible today! A friend of mine who does this well is Marc Lambert.

Marc’s YouTube channel is full of teaching he brings before his church, to—in a pastoral way—introduce the concepts of critical thinking and rationality.

It’s also possible to accomplish this through staffing and volunteer work.

If you’re a pastor but you are not inclined to the more philosophical side of things, perhaps you could get started by working with someone from your staff or congregation.

Critical Thinking is Important for Christians

These days, it’s not a question of whether or not your faith—or the faith of someone you know—will be challenged. It’s a question of when.

The stakes are too high to act like the proverbial ostrich who digs his head into the sand.

It is possible to introduce critical thinking skills into our local churches and everyday Christian experience.

It should be—and can be—normal to be a Bible nerd.

Discussion about this post

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How to Be a Logical and Rational Christian: A Guide for Spiritual Thinkers

As a Christian, it’s essential to understand the role of logic and reasoning in your spiritual journey. While faith plays a significant role, incorporating critical thinking skills can help you make better decisions and navigate complex issues in your life. This guide will provide practical advice and tips on how to be a logical and rational Christian.

Logic , rationality , and faith are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they can complement each other in powerful ways. By learning how to think critically and objectively, you can deepen your spiritual understanding and strengthen your relationship with God.

In this guide, we will explore various topics such as overcoming emotional biases, developing a rational approach to your faith, and embracing critical thinking in your Bible study. Whether you’re a seasoned spiritual thinker or a new believer, this guide will provide practical insights and tools to help you grow in your faith.

If you’re ready to take your spiritual journey to the next level, keep reading and discover how you can become a more logical and rational Christian.

Table of Contents

Understanding the Role of Logic in Christianity

As a Christian, it’s natural to assume that faith and reason are at odds with each other. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Logic plays a crucial role in our understanding of God and the world around us.

For example, the concept of apologetics – the rational defense of the Christian faith – is rooted in the idea that our beliefs must be logically sound and supported by evidence. Critical thinking is another important aspect of being a logical and rational Christian. We must be willing to question our assumptions, test our beliefs, and seek out answers with an open mind.

Moreover, the Bible itself is full of examples of people using logic and reason to understand God’s will. Proverbs 14:15 states, “The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.” This verse highlights the importance of being thoughtful and analytical in our approach to faith.

Ultimately, being a logical and rational Christian isn’t about sacrificing our beliefs or ignoring our emotions. It’s about recognizing that our faith is grounded in a foundation of reason and evidence, and using these tools to better understand and serve God.

Logic as a Tool for Understanding God’s Plan

Reasoning is a valuable tool in comprehending God’s plan. When we approach the Bible with logic, we can better understand the motives and actions of God.

Logic helps us avoid flawed interpretations of scripture. If we don’t use reason and instead rely on our emotions or preconceived ideas, we risk misinterpreting God’s message.

Logical thinking can lead us to new insights about our faith. By approaching Christianity with a critical mindset, we can challenge ourselves and deepen our understanding of God’s plan.

Using logic as a tool for understanding God’s plan can help us avoid misinterpretations, gain new insights, and deepen our understanding of the Bible. It is important to approach our faith with an open mind and a willingness to challenge our assumptions.

The Relationship Between Faith and Reason in Christianity

Many people view faith and reason as being in opposition to each other. However, in Christianity, faith and reason work together to create a fuller understanding of God’s plan. Reason is a tool that helps us interpret and understand the Bible, and faith is what allows us to trust in God’s plan even when we don’t fully understand it.

Throughout history, there have been many debates about the relationship between faith and reason. Some have argued that faith requires the rejection of reason, while others have argued that reason can be used to support faith. In reality, faith and reason are complementary aspects of our spiritual lives that work together to deepen our understanding of God’s plan.

Faith allows us to trust in God’s plan even when it doesn’t make sense to us.
Reason helps us to interpret the Bible and understand God’s plan in a more complete way.
Together, faith and reason create a more complete picture of God’s plan for us.
As Christians, it is important to embrace both faith and reason in our spiritual journey.

Ultimately, faith and reason are not in opposition to each other, but rather they work together to create a more complete understanding of God’s plan. As we seek to deepen our faith and understanding of God, it is important to embrace both reason and faith in our spiritual journey.

Developing a Rational Approach to Your Faith

Question Your Beliefs: It’s important to ask yourself why you believe what you believe. Examining the foundations of your faith can help you better understand it, and ultimately strengthen it. Don’t be afraid to ask tough questions or seek out different perspectives.

Study the Bible: The Bible is an essential tool for understanding Christianity, but it’s important to approach it with a rational mindset. Take the time to study it in depth, and seek out resources that can help you better understand its context and history.

Embrace Reasoning: Christianity is a faith that is grounded in reason, so don’t be afraid to use your own reasoning skills to analyze and interpret your beliefs. This can help you avoid blindly following dogma or accepting beliefs without evidence.

Engage with the World: Don’t be afraid to engage with the world around you and learn from people with different beliefs and experiences. By engaging in open dialogue and intellectual discussions, you can strengthen your own faith and gain a deeper understanding of the world.

Recognizing the Importance of Evidence in Your Beliefs

Evidence is a crucial aspect of rational thinking, and this applies to Christianity as well. To be a logical and rational Christian, you need to understand the importance of evidence-based beliefs.

Examining evidence helps you understand the reasons behind your beliefs and provides a solid foundation for your faith. It’s essential to differentiate between beliefs based on evidence and those based on personal preferences or cultural traditions.

Being open to new evidence and considering it in your beliefs is vital for growth and development as a Christian. As we learn and gain new insights, our understanding of the world and our faith can evolve.

Avoiding biases in examining evidence is crucial for rational thinking. Confirmation bias, for example, can lead us to seek out evidence that supports our beliefs while ignoring or dismissing evidence that contradicts them.

Approaching Difficult Theological Questions with a Rational Mindset

As Christians, we are called to examine our beliefs with a critical eye and engage in intellectual inquiry when faced with difficult theological questions. It is important to approach these questions with a rational mindset, utilizing critical thinking skills and sound reasoning to arrive at informed conclusions.

One way to approach difficult theological questions is to engage with the text and study the context and historical background of the scriptures. This can help provide a more comprehensive understanding of the text and help in discerning its meaning.

Overcoming Emotional Biases in Your Spiritual Journey

Emotions play a significant role in shaping our spiritual beliefs and practices, but they can also lead us astray. It’s essential to be aware of how emotions can bias our thinking.

Confirmation bias is a common emotional bias that can hinder rational thinking. It involves seeking out and interpreting information in a way that confirms our existing beliefs, even if the evidence contradicts them.

Cognitive dissonance is another emotional bias that can cause us to reject information that conflicts with our beliefs. It’s the discomfort we feel when holding two conflicting beliefs or ideas simultaneously.

Mindfulness can help us overcome emotional biases by cultivating awareness of our thoughts and feelings. When we observe our emotions, we can acknowledge them without being controlled by them.

Critical thinking is another powerful tool for overcoming emotional biases. It involves evaluating evidence objectively and logically, regardless of our personal feelings or biases.

By understanding and overcoming emotional biases, we can develop a more rational and logical approach to our spiritual journey, one that is grounded in evidence and free from the distortions of our emotions.

The Role of Emotions in Your Faith

As a Christian, it’s essential to recognize that emotions play a significant role in your spiritual journey. Your emotions can be a source of strength and comfort, but they can also be a source of bias and error in your thinking.

One of the key things to keep in mind is that emotions are not inherently good or bad. They are simply a part of being human, and they can help you connect with God and others on a deeper level. However, when your emotions become overwhelming or start to cloud your judgment, it can be challenging to think rationally and make informed decisions.

How to Address Emotional Biases When Making Decisions About Your Faith

Acknowledge your emotions: Recognize and accept your emotions instead of suppressing them. Emotions are a natural part of the decision-making process.
Identify your biases: Reflect on your beliefs and consider if your emotions may be influencing your decision-making process.
Seek diverse perspectives: Seek out information from a variety of sources, including people with different viewpoints, to challenge your own biases and broaden your perspective.
Use critical thinking: Evaluate evidence objectively and logically, using reason and evidence to form your beliefs rather than relying solely on emotions.

By acknowledging your emotions, identifying your biases, seeking diverse perspectives, and using critical thinking, you can address emotional biases and make more informed decisions about your faith.

Exploring the Intersection of Science and Religion

Science and religion: For centuries, these two fields have been at odds with each other, with many people believing they are incompatible. But is that really the case?

Modern understanding: Today, many religious individuals believe that science and religion can coexist, and some even argue that science can enhance our understanding of God’s creation.

Areas of overlap: There are several areas where science and religion intersect, such as the origin of the universe, the nature of consciousness, and the ethics of scientific research.

Challenges: While there is potential for science and religion to work together, there are also challenges. One issue is the conflict between scientific findings and religious beliefs, such as the theory of evolution versus creationism.

The Compatibility of Science and Christianity

Science and Christianity have often been viewed as incompatible. However, many Christians see science as a way to better understand God’s creation.

The scientific method seeks to explain natural phenomena through empirical evidence and logical reasoning. This approach is consistent with the Christian belief that God created an orderly universe.

The theory of evolution is often viewed as a point of contention between science and Christianity. However, many Christians believe in the compatibility of evolution and the Biblical account of creation.

Many scientists throughout history have been Christians, including Galileo, Newton, and Mendel. They saw their scientific work as a way to understand God’s creation and serve Him better.

The Limitations of Science and the Role of Faith in Your Understanding of the World

Science has its limitations, and it cannot explain everything. There are questions that it cannot answer, such as questions of purpose, meaning, and morality. These are questions that faith attempts to address.

Faith can provide answers to questions that science cannot. It can offer a framework for understanding the world that goes beyond the physical realm. However, it’s important to recognize that faith is not a replacement for science but rather complements it.

Both science and faith can coexist and work together to provide a more complete understanding of the world. Science can help us understand the natural laws and physical processes that govern the universe, while faith can help us understand the purpose and meaning behind it all.

It’s important to strike a balance between science and faith. We should not let our faith blind us to scientific discoveries, nor should we let science dismiss our faith. Instead, we should approach both with an open mind and a willingness to learn and understand.

Embracing Critical Thinking in Your Bible Study

Bible study is a vital aspect of spiritual growth for many Christians. However, approaching the Bible with a critical mindset can enhance the experience and lead to deeper understanding. Questioning the text and analyzing it in its historical and cultural context can reveal new insights and perspectives. Additionally, comparing different translations and interpretations can also expand understanding.

It is important to be open to new ideas and interpretations, while also remaining grounded in the text. Discernment is key when evaluating different viewpoints or interpretations. Critical thinking allows for a more nuanced understanding of the Bible and can also help reconcile apparent contradictions or inconsistencies.

Embracing critical thinking can also help bridge the gap between faith and reason. By approaching the Bible with an analytical mindset, it is possible to reconcile scientific or historical discoveries with religious beliefs. This can lead to a more holistic understanding of the world and our place in it.

Finally, incorporating critical thinking into Bible study can also lead to a more personal and transformative experience. By critically examining the text and our own beliefs, we can deepen our spiritual connection and grow in our faith.

Approaching the Bible with a Critical Mindset

Question assumptions: When reading the Bible, it’s essential to question assumptions and preconceptions. Doing so can help you see the text in a new light and understand the message better.

Context matters: The Bible was written in a specific historical and cultural context. To understand it better, we need to consider the context in which it was written and the audience it was written for.

Interpretation: The Bible is open to interpretation, and there are often multiple ways to understand a particular passage. We should be open to different interpretations and willing to explore them to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the text.

Use reason and evidence: Critical thinking involves using reason and evidence to evaluate claims and arguments. When studying the Bible, we should apply this same approach to understand the text better.

How to Use Critical Thinking to Interpret Scripture

Understand the context: It’s important to consider the historical, cultural, and literary context of the passage you’re studying. This can help you understand the author’s intended meaning and how it applies to your life today.

Ask questions: Don’t be afraid to ask questions about the text, such as who wrote it, when it was written, and who it was written for. This can help you gain a deeper understanding of the message.

Consider different interpretations: There are often multiple ways to interpret a passage of scripture. Consider different viewpoints and interpretations, and weigh the evidence for each one.

Apply critical thinking skills: Use critical thinking skills like analysis, evaluation, and inference to examine the text and draw conclusions about its meaning.

The Importance of Context in Your Bible Study

Context is essential to understanding any text, including the Bible. Without it, we risk misinterpreting the meaning and message of scripture. Understanding the cultural and historical context in which the Bible was written can provide insight into the author’s intended meaning.

Context also includes examining the literary genre of a particular passage or book. Is it poetry, history, or prophecy? Each genre has its own unique style and purpose, which affects the interpretation.

Another important aspect of context is considering the surrounding verses and chapters of a passage. This can help clarify any ambiguous language and provide a more complete understanding of the message.

Finally, context includes understanding how a particular passage fits into the larger narrative of the Bible. The Bible is a collection of books with a unifying message, and understanding how each passage contributes to that message is crucial.

Applying Logic to Your Decision-Making as a Christian

As a Christian, making decisions that align with your faith can be challenging. However, logic can help you navigate complex situations with clarity and confidence.

Clear thinking is essential when making decisions that impact your life and the lives of others. Taking the time to consider all the options and potential consequences can help you make informed decisions.

Objectivity is critical in decision-making. By removing personal biases, you can make decisions based on facts and evidence, rather than emotions. This approach can help you avoid making rash decisions that may not align with your values.

As a Christian, prayer and seeking guidance from God can also help guide your decision-making. By taking the time to listen to God and ask for guidance, you can make decisions that align with your faith and values.

Finally, wisdom gained through experience and knowledge can also help you make sound decisions. Seeking advice from trusted mentors or friends can provide valuable insights and perspectives to help you make informed choices.

Critical thinking: Applying logic to decision-making involves critical thinking, which is the ability to analyze information objectively and make reasoned judgments based on evidence.

Objective evaluation: By using logic, you can evaluate situations objectively, free from biases and emotions, to determine the best course of action.

Practical applications: Applying logic to your decision-making process can help you make practical and effective decisions in all areas of your life, including your personal relationships and professional pursuits.

Compatibility with faith: Applying logic does not have to be in opposition to faith. In fact, many religious traditions encourage the use of critical thinking and reasoning as a means of deepening one’s faith and understanding of God.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the importance of logic and rationality in christianity.

Logic and rationality are essential components in making sound decisions, interpreting the Bible accurately, and defending your faith effectively.

How can you improve your logical and rational thinking as a Christian?

You can enhance your logical and rational thinking by studying logic and philosophy, seeking out opposing viewpoints, and examining your own biases.

What are some common logical fallacies to avoid as a Christian?

Some common logical fallacies include ad hominem attacks, straw man arguments, and false dichotomies. It is crucial to recognize and avoid these fallacies in your reasoning.

How can you apply logical and rational thinking to your daily life as a Christian?

You can apply logical and rational thinking to your daily life by making informed decisions, resolving conflicts effectively, and engaging in meaningful discussions about your faith with others.

What is the relationship between faith and logic in Christianity?

Faith and logic are not mutually exclusive but rather complementary. Faith provides a foundation for your beliefs, while logic helps you to analyze and understand those beliefs more deeply.

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Christians and the Need for Critical Thinking

Updated: Jul 17, 2023

“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.” (Col. 2:6-8)

It has been said, “Life is made up of ideas and ideas have consequences.”¹ And though that has always been true, in our age of social media those ideas circulate at break-neck speeds. Not having the ability to think critically in today’s sea of information is like jumping into the ocean without the ability to swim. Rather than settling for merely staying afloat, we should develop our ability to swim with ease through the waves of theories and theologies that have the potential to wash us away from Christ. After all, the church is not immune to the negative influences of postmodernism, relativism, political expediency, or any other of the myriad of unbiblical philosophies alive today.

Critical thinking is simply the skill of pressing certain questions further to understand and evaluate an idea or argument. It is the opposite of evaluating an idea simply by our emotions or allowing our thinking to be driven by the media or groupthink. It is accepting the personal responsibility to not be taken “captive” but to evaluate all ideas through the lens of Christ, the One in whom we are to walk.

In one of my seminary classes, we were taught three important questions to ask when trying to think critically as we engage different ideas, theories, theologies, or philosophies.² I want to share those with you here.

So, in your attempt to think critically concerning the next blog post, news article, or controversial conversation you encounter, here are some practical questions you can ask as you think critically regarding a certain issue.

1. What do you mean?

This question is basic but often skipped. Rather than determining the meaning of the argument as a whole, first consider the various words and phrases that are being used. Is it clear what they mean? Oftentimes meaning is assumed or we bring our own understanding to the argument. But as we engage others in conversation or in their writings we must first know what they really mean. Sometimes people can’t offer a clear explanation of what they mean. If there is an absence of clarity in their argument, critical thinking enables us to see through that.

2. What is your evidence?

Once we understand the meanings of the central words and phrases being used, we need to think through the connecting arguments. You might find that not all evidence given is relevant to the conclusion. For example, consider the argument, “The sky is blue and snow is cold, therefore the Buffalo Bills are a terrible football team.”³ Those all might be true, individual statements but they are not necessarily connected, and thus form a bad argument.

3. What’s next?

In other words, we ought to ask, if I believe this idea, what else would I need to believe? If I agree with this, what else will I need to agree with? This question is helpful as it acts like a safety check on the back end of the thought process; a kind of final inspection before agreement. No idea lives in isolation so think through the potential implications of the argument.

Again, we are bombarded by ideas every day. We must be ready to think critically as we engage the viewpoints of others, oftentimes coming from a worldview other than biblical Christianity. If we are to root ourselves and build ourselves up in Christ we must guard our minds from any idea that is not centered on Christ. So, before you wholeheartedly agree with the next book you read or you share the next opinion piece that hits your newsfeed or timeline, determine to engage in some critical thinking. These three very simple questions, asked in conjunction with a growing knowledge of Scripture, can aid you in guarding your mind from any idea being propagated that is not according to Christ.

¹Jeff Myers, The Secret Battle of Ideas About God: Overcoming the Outbreak of Five Fatal Worldviews. Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 2017. This book gives a good introduction to a Christian evaluation of postmodernism, Islam, Marxism, secularism, and new age teachings.

²Props to Dr. Madsen at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary for this helpful class.

³No offense. You can decide if those statements are true.

From Our Leaders

20 Bible Verses about Critical Thinking

Proverbs 14:15 esv / 112 helpful votes helpful not helpful.

The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.

2 Timothy 2:7 ESV / 81 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

1 Thessalonians 5:21 ESV / 47 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

But test everything; hold fast what is good.

1 John 4:1 ESV / 41 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Proverbs 18:17 ESV / 22 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him.

Acts 17:11 ESV / 17 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

2 Corinthians 10:5 ESV / 15 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

Proverbs 9:10 ESV / 13 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

Isaiah 1:18 ESV / 11 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord : though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.

1 John 4:7-17 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ...

Colossians 2:8 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

Proverbs 25:1-28 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied. It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out. As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable. Take away the dross from the silver, and the smith has material for a vessel; take away the wicked from the presence of the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness. ...

2 Timothy 2:15-16 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness,

Proverbs 23:7 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

For he is like one who is inwardly calculating. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.

Matthew 18:6 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

Matthew 7:1 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

“Judge not, that you be not judged.

1 Samuel 1:2 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

He had two wives. The name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other, Peninnah. And Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.

John 1:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Matthew 2:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;

Genesis 1:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

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Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License . All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles , a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com.

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Critical Thinking

INTRODUCTION

In the following essay, we will briefly discuss the nature of an argument, the law of non-contradiction, and a selection of informal fallacies. We will also present a helpful cache of tough questions, which can be used when engaging various worldviews. Finally, we will look at how to discern the assumptions behind the information presented in the media. This survey is designed to provide you with an introduction to the art of critical thinking.

Why are so many people in today’s society swayed by mere emotionalism, or trapped by the most recent propaganda disseminated across our airwaves, television, or in the classroom? While there are several factors involved in answering this question, one primary reason is that people do not think critically.

What is an Argument?

Most people think an argument occurs when people get together, raise their voices, and call each other names. Properly speaking, this is not an argument, but an altercation. An argument, understood in a philosophical or logical context, is where we draw conclusions from various premises. There are several words that we use to indicate when we are presenting a premise and when we are presenting a conclusion. When indicating a premise, we use such words as: because, for, for this reason, as, if, based on the fact that, etc . When demonstrating a conclusion, we typically use: therefore, thus, consequently, hence, it follows that, etc . It’s good to keep these indicators in mind so that you can detect an argument.

It is common for arguments to be confused with assertions. Assertions are the expressions of opinions without supporting premises. For example, it is common to hear someone assert that there are contradictions in the Bible, but just saying so doesn’t make it so. When you hear assertions like this, the proper response is to ask questions, such as, “Can you give me some examples?” 1

The Law of Non-Contradiction

This law is the foundation for all logical thinking. It may be defined as follows: a statement (a proposition) cannot be true and not true at the same time and in the same respect. For example: It cannot be both raining and not raining at the same time and in the same respect.

Humans did not invent the laws of logic any more than they invented the laws of nature — such as the law of gravity. In fact, throughout the Bible, the law of non-contradiction is implied. Without this law, nothing could be interpreted as true or false. Right thinking imitates God’s thinking; and because God does not contradict himself (his Word cannot be broken — John 10:35; he cannot lie — Hebrews 6:18), Christians should seek to avoid contradiction. Without the law of non-contradiction we would never be able to detect a lie. 2

In fact, if someone wants to deny the law of non-contradiction, that person immediately runs back into it, because they would have to presuppose that it’s true in order to prove that it’s false. Imagine the following conversation:

“Hey, I don’t think the law of non-contradiction is really that important. In fact, I believe that we don’t need to follow it at all.” “Really? So you think we need to follow the law of non-contradiction. You really believe it’s that important?” “Didn’t you hear me? I said just the opposite from what you said I said.” “If the law of non-contradiction really isn’t important, then we are both correct.”

When expressing a denial or affirmation of any claim, proposition, belief, or idea, one must presuppose the law of non-contradiction. It is fundamental to any kind of distinctions: right and wrong, good and bad, true and false. 3

LOGICAL FALLACIES

A fallacy is simply a faulty argument. In the process of reasoning, there are two types of fallacies that occur: formal and informal. Formal fallacies deal with the actual form of the argument. When an argument is structured incorrectly it is fallacious. Even when an argument is formally correct, it may still be informally fallacious. The conclusion may not actually follow from the premises due to a faulty gathering of information, circular reasoning, or some other mistake. Informal fallacies are the more common of the two types of fallacies, and will be covered in this paper.

Below we provide a list of some common informal fallacies, a brief explanation of each, and an illustration or two. We have not provided an exhaustive catalogue because there seem to be an endless number of ways that people can make mistakes in their thinking, and we do not have the space to explain them all.

Fallacies of Ambiguity

Communication can be difficult. Difficulties arise from differing cultures, age groups, races, prejudices, and especially from differing worldviews. One of the most important ground rules for clear communication is clear definitions. We may be unnecessarily frustrated if others misunderstand what we say because they either don’t know what a word means, or we simply have not supplied clear definitions for the words we use.

Equivocation: The fallacy of equivocation occurs when we use different definitions for the same word, or when a word is taken in a different way than intended (a different definition). Many words have different meanings depending on their context. Consider the following examples:

“All men are created equal? If that were so, then there wouldn’t be so many rich people.” “If all men are created equal, then why am I so short?”

The difficulty that arises in these examples is that the statement “all men are created equal” means that all men should be equally valued as human beings. It was never intended to mean that we are all clones of one another, or that we would have equal incomes.

There is a special type of equivocation that can occur with relative terms like tall or short . These types of words must be understood in relation to something else. To claim that something or someone is tall assumes a relation to other people or things. The vagueness of these types of terms can only be clarified by context.

It should be noted that much of our humor rests in equivocations. In a humorous context, we call it a “play on words.” Also, sometimes an equivocation can be intentional and witty, such as when Ben Franklin declared, “We must all hang together, or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.” The word hang is intended to be understood quite differently in each usage.

When Christians are witnessing to people who are involved in pseudo-Christian religions (i.e. cults), they need to be very careful to define their words so as not to be misunderstood. For example, while Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses both use the name of Jesus Christ, they have completely different meanings. The Jehovah’s Witness believes that Jesus was the first created being and was, in fact, the Archangel Michael before he became the man Jesus. The Mormons, on the other hand, believe that Jesus is literally our older brother from a pre-existence. Jesus is believed to be the firstborn of the Father and one of many gods. Given these differences, we need to make sure that we dig deeper into the meanings of what people say and not stay at a superficial level of communication. 4

Fallacies of Relevance

This section will deal with fallacies that occur when something irrelevant to the question of truth is added to an argument in the attempt to persuade.

Appeal to Pity: This fallacy occurs when one tries to persuade by invoking the listener to feel sorry for the individual or group for whom one is arguing. Many times, pity is an appropriate reaction, but it is not always a valid means of persuasion.

For example, sometimes abortion advocates will argue that if you make poor women carry their babies to term, they may not be cared for properly, or that if you outlaw abortion, then women will have to return to the “back alley butchers” to get abortions. While these arguments may be emotionally persuasive, they are not relevant to the issue at hand. One is never justified in killing a child just because life becomes harder for the mother.

Ad Hominem: Ad hominem means “argument to the person.” This fallacy is committed when, instead of dealing with what a person is arguing, someone attacks his or her character. This is fallacious because a person’s character typically has no bearing on the truth or falsehood of his or her claims. Here are some examples:

“You are wrong because you are an intolerant, closed-minded, right-wing fundamentalist.” “You can’t trust anything he says. He is a liberal pagan atheist and has no basis for morality.”

Appeal to Ignorance: This fallacy can occur in two ways. 1) To argue that something is true because it hasn’t been proven to be false; or 2) to argue that something is false because it hasn’t been proven to be true. Just because there is no proof against your position does not prove your position true. Likewise, just because a position has not been proven does not mean that it is false. Here are a couple examples:

“You cannot prove God does not exist, therefore God exists.” “You cannot prove God does exist, therefore God does not exist.”

Red Herring: A herring is a fish that can be used to distract and confuse bloodhounds on the scent of game. Similarly, this fallacy is the introduction of an irrelevant side issue into an argument which ultimately distracts and confuses the case being presented. Often positive (or even negative) reasons offered for a conclusion have nothing to do with conclusion. Here are a couple of examples:

“Of course she’s a good doctor. She drives a great car and is really funny.” “You believe abortion is murder, yet you are in support of capital punishment?”

Fallacies of Presumption

Fallacies of presumption are those fallacies where someone holds to an unjustified conclusion. This is usually caused by overlooking, denying, evading, or distorting the facts.

Hasty Generalization: When you wish to make an argument for a certain position, you need to gather information for support. In doing this, you must be very careful to gather sufficient evidence to support your conclusion. The fallacy of hasty generalization is committed when a person gathers too little information to support the conclusion being argued.

Just because one or two taxi drivers are rude and obnoxious does not mean that you can generalize that all (or even most) taxi drivers behave this way. All that can legitimately be drawn from such a sampling is that the particular taxi drivers you have encountered were rude and obnoxious. In the same way, just because a person may encounter a couple of Christian TV evangelists who have questionable character does not mean one can conclude that all Christians have questionable character.

These examples get at the heart of the most common way this fallacy is manifest: prejudices. Our prejudices are typically built on a very small sampling, and then are generalized and applied to an entire group (or sub-group) of people or things.

Sweeping Generalization: The fallacy of sweeping generalization is committed when one takes a general rule and applies it absolutely to all instances, not recognizing that there are exceptions. The generalization might be a very fair one, but the application in particular, uncommon, or unique instances may not be valid.

For example, exercise is generally a good thing. Yet what if you have a heart condition? One could say, “Aerobics is the best way to exercise, and Jenny really needs exercise for her heart condition.” The problem is that while aerobics might be “the best way to exercise,” it would obviously not be the right way for Jenny. Instead of it helping her, it might kill her. Here are a couple more examples:

“I haven’t met a single moral atheist. Therefore, no atheists are moral.” “All Christians hate homosexuals. At least, all the ones I know do.”

Begging the Question: This fallacy occurs when one simply assumes what he or she is trying to prove. This situation can be demonstrated in the following conversation between two thieves who just stole three bars of gold:

Thief A: “So how are we going to divide the gold?” Thief B: “I should get two bars and you can have one.” Thief A: “Why should you get two bars?” Thief B: “Because I am the leader.” Thief A: “How did you get to be the leader?” Thief B: “Because I have two bars.”

Faulty Dilemma: This fallacy occurs when a person states that there are only a certain number of options, and you must choose between them, when in fact there are more options available.

In John 9:2–3 the disciples posed a faulty dilemma when, concerning a man who had been blind from birth, they asked, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

This is an either/or type of question. Instead of answering the question with one of the suggested responses, Jesus denies both and supplies a third. Jesus said, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.”

Complex Question: One common attempt by unbelievers to stump believers is to ask the age-old question: “Can God create a rock so big that he can’t lift it?” If you answer yes, then God’s omnipotence (all-powerfulness) is denied due to the fact that he can’t lift the rock. If you answer no, however, then God’s omnipotence is denied because he can’t create such a rock. Neither of these answers is satisfying to a Bible-believing Christian. How does one reason out of this dilemma?

This example can be classified as the fallacy of a complex question, or loaded question. What if I asked you, “Have you stopped beating your wife yet?” If you answer yes, that implies that you have been beating her. If you answer no, then you are still beating her. The problem lies in the question; it is one of those that is simply not fair to ask. You would have to respond that you have never beaten your wife, and that the question presupposes that you have. You can’t answer with a simple yes or a no.

Now back to God and the big rock. You cannot answer this question with a simple yes or no. What you have to do is show that the question is not fair. (It might be good to provide the question about beating one’s wife as an illustration of this.) You see, by definition, since God is omnipotent (and that is what the Bible teaches), he could create the largest rock possible. Also, because God is omnipotent, he could lift the largest possible rock. The problem with the question is that it is faulty; the question was loaded. You cannot set the creative expression of an omnipotent being against the abilities of an omnipotent being. That would be just as illogical as asking whether or not God could create a square circle or if God could count higher than infinity. It is not within the realm of reality to speak of such illusions, and they do not in any way illustrate any limitation in God’s power and abilities.

False Analogy: An analogy is said to be fallacious or false if it compares two objects that are actually relevantly dissimilar or if the points of comparison are used to draw a conclusion that simply does not follow. 5 Consider the following example:

“You Christians claim to have miracles to support your religion, but so do other religious traditions, such as Mormonism. Thus there is no reason to believe that Christianity is true.”

The two objects being compared are Christians and Mormons. Their status as religions and their claim that miracles occur and support their validity are the points of commonalities. However, the conclusion that Christianity is false because another religion claims miracles does not follow. For example, it is possible that miracles occur within both religions traditions. It is also possible that either Christianity or Mormonism have lied or believed falsely regarding the miracles claimed by their religion.

False Cause: This fallacy is committed when a person believes that just because one thing followed another there must be a causal connection.

In many ancient cultures, people believed that the gods caused all sickness. These cultures would therefore attempt to placate the wrath of their gods by means of various sacrifices. At times, the sickness would go away after the sacrifices. Because of this, their beliefs were reinforced. They believed that the gods had been placated, and the sickness was removed because of the sacrifice. Mere chronological sequence does not prove causation.

Straw Man: The straw man fallacy occurs when a person misrepresents another’s view so as to easily discredit it. This can happen intentionally or unintentionally. The image this fallacy conjures up is that of a person building a straw man simply to knock it over.

One might say, “You say that the New Testament teaches that we are not under law, and that we are saved by grace through faith alone. Therefore, what you teach is that we can sin all we want after we are saved.” This is a straw man according to Paul in Romans 6:15ff. The person making such an argument simplified the New Testament’s stance on the law, sin, and salvation in order to easily defeat a teaching they either didn’t understand or with which they didn’t agree.

Appeal to Majority: We see this fallacy when we appeal to a group of people to prove that something is true or false, right or wrong. Many times Americans fall into this trap. For example, some people think that certain sexual practices are justified because over 50% of the American public believes that they are permissible. We cannot determine right and wrong by majority vote.

In the past, many people believed that the Earth was flat. But just because they believed this, does it mean that the Earth was indeed flat? Does majority vote make things true or right today? Just because a great number of Americans think that abortion is acceptable, does that make it so?

In the end, we cannot determine right/wrong or true/false by majority vote. Such a thing can be decided only by legitimate reasons and evidence.

Appeal to Tradition: This fallacy occurs when one appeals either to what is old, or to what is new in the attempt to establish the truth.

Someone may appeal to what is traditional. “We have always done it this way, it must be right.” However, there may be a better way. More often today, we hear an appeal to the modern . “We moderns don’t believe in the existence of God. That was for ages past when people believed in mythology.” Merely because something is old or new does not make it right or true.

ASKING QUESTIONS 6

Francis Scott Key, the man who penned the words of the Star-Spangled Banner , was also a great Christian apologist. He once wrote, “I do not believe there are any new objections to be raised to the truth of Christianity. Men may argue ingeniously against our faith, but what can they say in defense of their own?”

Mr. Key understood a profound, yet little known principle of defending the Christian faith: the best defense is a good offense. Both sides of an issue should be able to defend their position. We need to practice making our opponents 7 stand up for what they believe, and the best way to make them defend their position is by asking strategic questions.

The strategy of asking questions is a powerful one, but it must be done with the correct demeanor. We must always question the ideas presented, although we should be careful not to challenge the authority of the professor.

In addition, we must keep in mind that if we ask questions of others, they will likely ask questions of us. That means that while we want to challenge other people to defend their beliefs, they will challenge us as well. We need to know why we believe what we believe.

By asking questions we engage in worldview apologetics. We are able to go beyond someone’s appearance or behavior in order reveal and engage their worldview.

How you ask questions — the attitude revealed in your style of inquiry — will reveal whether you want to persuade someone of the truth or just win arguments. We hope that you will desire the former so that you can graciously demonstrate Christian living to unbelievers.

Asking questions is an excellent strategy for three reasons. First, it is low risk. If your opponent becomes angry or defensive at your questions, then you can simply stop asking questions, or change the subject.

Second, asking questions helps you to understand your opponent’s train of thought — where they began their thinking, how their thinking progressed, and the exact conclusion for which they are trying to argue. In other words, asking questions helps you to understand them. And understanding is a primary step in seeking to persuade people of the truth.

Third, asking questions can help someone to have a better understanding of where they stand on an issue. In other words, instead of giving them an explanation, you can cause them to think through their position more clearly.

What sort of questions should we be asking? Start with questions that strike at the heart of your opponent’s worldview. Such questions force them to back up and defend their assumptions. Along this line, we suggest a series of tough questions .

Question 1: What do you mean by that?

Always begin by asking your opponents to define their terms. If they say something like, “There is no such thing as a traditional family left in the United States today,” then ask, “What do you mean by traditional family?” If they say “God cannot exist because there is too much evil,” then ask, “What do you mean by evil ?” 8

Question 2: How did you come to that conclusion?

This question is especially helpful in coming to understand how people think. You can find out where their thoughts began, how they progressed, and how they arrived at their conclusion. Along the way, you can ask further questions about any of their points of reasoning.

Question 3: How do you know that to be true?

Here we are seeking an understanding of why they believe what they believe. Ask them to supply some good support for what they are claiming to be true.

Question 4: Why do you believe that you are right?

We should be ready to ask, “Why do you believe as you do?” This question forces one’s opponent to admit when they are simply assuming their beliefs and when they have actually reasoned through their beliefs. It also helps to reveal any evidence they might offer for their arguments. Christians should, in turn, always be ready to give rudimentary reasons for their beliefs on any given subject.

Question 5: Where do you get your information?

Students should be trained to ask, “Where do you get the information to prove that what you are saying is true?” This question can help distinguish between mere hearsay and documented data.

Question 6: What happens if you are wrong?

Nobody likes to think about the consequences if what they believe is wrong. Yet there have been some outstanding examples of people who were willing to do just that. One such person was Blaise Pascal, a brilliant mathematician, known for his famous wager. It goes something like this: “If I become a Christian and live my life in the service of mankind, and then die only to find out that Christianity is not true, I will have lost nothing. But if I do not become a Christian and live my life selfishly, and then die only to discover that Christianity is true, I will have lost everything.” Pascal’s wager is a direct way of asking, “What do I have to lose if I am wrong?” 9

Question 7: Can you give me two sources that disagree with you and explain why they disagree? 10

College professors often hold to one position very strongly against all others. In class, they may assert, either implicitly or explicitly, that what they believe to be true is the objective truth. Therefore, they may give little or no merit to any disagreements, or they may even ridicule their opponents. The astute Christian student will ask such professors to explain clearly the opposing viewpoints, along with good documentation, and then explain why they disagree. In this way, you can see if your professors have weighed different sides of the issues and made informed decisions. The professor has two options: give the merits of the opposing side (thus demonstrating to the class that his is not the only way to think about the issue), or, admit that he has not studied the opposing viewpoints, and has thus made an uninformed decision without weighing all the available information.

Question 8: Why is this significant?

Many professors will fail, unless challenged by students, to provide the connection between their worldview and the point they are making. For example, if they claim “people are basically good, not sinful, by nature,” you might ask why this point is significant. This might prompt them to explain that this justifies another view, maybe a socialistic view of the world, or elimination of the need for a savior.

Question 9: How do I know you are telling me the truth? 11

If the opponent has any hidden agenda, it will surface at this point. We should not trust someone simply because he has a Ph.D. after his name. People are fallible, and we all make mistakes. Remember, the Bereans were nobler because they checked the Apostle Paul against the Old Testament (Acts 17:11). A poor professor will respond simply by listing his or her qualifications. A good professor will say “Don’t take my word for it. Go check it out for yourself.”

Question 10: Can you give me an alternate explanation for this phenomenon?

This is a good way to move a discussion back onto logical ground. Many individuals will emotionally assert things like, “His budget cuts are responsible for all of the economic ills in this nation.” This is an absurd generalization, something that will become evident when asking this question.

ANALYZING MEDIA REPORTS

People need to recognize that most of their information about the world comes to them through the media. Yet, the media isn’t some massive channel that simply dumps unbiased facts into our laps. As we have seen, everyone has a worldview: the actors in a news story, the experts who comment on it, the reporters of the story, even the editors/executives who decide which story to cover. Each of their worldviews has an impact on the information that eventually reaches you.

At times, the influence of a particular worldview may be subtle. However, it wouldn’t take very long to discover that many of them don’t just have a job; they have a mission. Their mission is to make a difference in the world through what they do. In fact, for many people, this is not an unusual goal. Students needs to be aware that we all approach information and life with a bias. It is simply unavoidable.

In the vast majority of cases, the editors and reporters are making an effort to be balanced. Yet what does balanced mean? It means reporting both sides of the issue with no indication that either side of the story has more merit. Is that true? As Christians, we believe that some things are right and other things are wrong.

As one learns to analyze media reports, he or she should apply the rules on logical thinking that are presented in this section. They should also keep the following factors in mind:

1. What is reported?

It is easy to think that by reading your daily newspaper and watching the evening news you have received a thorough representation of anything relevant in your community. Students should realize that each media outlet has a limited amount of space and ability to deal with everything that is important. Think of a media outlet as a spotlight on a dark night. The spotlight will illuminate things that you would never see otherwise, but there is no way it can shine on everything at once.

Recognize also that each individual news form has restrictions and limitations. In order to make a story acceptable for television, it must have pictures. This may seem inconsequential until you realize that there are some things — like the arrival of a new bear at the local zoo — which are reported because they make great pictures and can be reported in two minutes. Yet perhaps the same day the bear arrived, the city council made a change in the zoning laws that will affect your school. City council meetings make horrible pictures, and zoning laws don’t fit well into concise sound bites. Which story is truly important?

What makes an event newsworthy? Most events that are truly life-changing are not considered newsworthy: marriages, deaths, and births. Rarely do these events appear on the front page. Conversely, many events that make the front page are life changing for only a few people, or intriguing for the moment.

2. Which sides are presented?

Is a response from each side presented? Does the news story even indicate that someone might think differently? For instance, in an article in the Chicago Tribune , “Life Gets Earlier Date of Origin,” 12 an Australian scientist is reported as having found that life evolved much earlier than was previously thought — going from chemical soup to living cells in just 500 million years, rather than 1 1/2 billion years. The article is well written, and acknowledges disagreement within the scientific community. However, it does not acknowledge that anyone might disagree with evolution altogether.

There are many reasons for this type of omission. Sometimes it is deliberate. At other times, a reporter may not be aware that another viewpoint exists or know a credible contact to represent a position. Also, there may not be time to consider another opinion due to deadlines.

Another reason for omitting a position on an issue is based on worldviews. How we think will affect what we believe to be credible, or even possible. For example, we know that the world is round, but some people still believe it to be flat. If you were going to write an article examining a change in a major ocean current and its effect on weather, would you contact the Flat Earth Society for comment?

In the same way, a reporter who firmly believes that the material world is all that exists may do a human-interest piece on a miraculous recovery from cancer. Although they might mention the chance that there might be a supernatural element involved, a natural cause of recovery will be sought and favored. The reporter knows that there is no way God could have healed the patient, so this possibility is as absurd as the idea of a flat Earth.

3. What is the tone of the report?

Does the tone of the writing or speaking carry meaning in itself? Does the tone match the issue being reported? Consider the following example from an article concerning the ethical discussions raised by the movie Indecent Proposal (where a billionaire offers another man 1 million dollars for one night with his wife). The reporter spoke with a woman who is shocked by the number of women who would agree to take the money and sleep with the man. The reporter is writing in the first person.

“I was really shocked,” she said. “I think these people are telling the truth. Kidding is one thing, but this was a serious discussion. I love my husband. This would never even be cause for five minutes of deliberation. I would never do it. I can’t believe they would.” She talks as if this is going to go on record as the final rip in modern morality. “And what do you think?” she wanted to know. The woman is 53 years old, the grandmother of three. And by her own admission, she is 35 pounds overweight. I told her I could see how this would be a great moral challenge. But I thought she had the strength to get through it. “I think you can go back to worrying about Somalia, the economy and whether Donald will marry Marla,” I said. “I just don’t think this is going to come up.” “That’s not the point,” she said. “Yes, it is,” I replied. 13

4. What underlying assumptions does the news story hold?

Students should become skilled in seeking underlying assumptions held in the report of a story.

The Twin Cities Star Tribune ran an article entitled, “If every kid cared, the world would change,” 14 describing the impact of a few sixth graders concerned about the environment. The piece is inspiring, but the assumption is that it is permissible to do whatever is necessary to make your point (the children disobeyed school officials in holding a protest, and were suspended from school). This disobedience was presented in a positive light.

5. Who are the sources and how are they characterized?

Does an article on environmentalism only quote extremist groups, or do they use more moderate sources? If the article quotes Christians, which groups or spokespersons are quoted? Are these the best sources? Why were these sources used? Consider also how the sources are characterized or described. Are they seen in a positive or negative light? The following quote is from an Associated Press article reporting on several Italian towns that banned bikinis on city streets.

ROME (AP) — . . . Limits on topless bathing or skimpy suits on city streets are not new. But this time the prudery illuminates attitudes about a political force that has arrived like an awkward adolescent shouldering his way onto the school bus. The prudish officials belong to the Northern League, a regionally based anti-corruption party backed by small businessmen and the middle class, with upright morals to match.

The bans reflect the culture clash between the League and its rivals from traditional parties, particularly on the left, which regard the League as part of a conservative backlash. 15

6. How are words used to describe people or organizations?

To describe the incident: Was someone taken to jail or thrown into jail?
To describe the people involved: A local church or a fundamentalist religious group ? 16
To describe a position: Is someone pro-life or anti-abortion ?
To convey emotion: One article described citations by the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression. The organization cited the Federal Communications Commission for censorship for ” . . . trying to gag controversial radio personality Howard Stern . . . ” 17 Censorship and gag are emotional words, and convey meaning.
To give positive or negative connotations: “Focus on the Family, the Christian media conglomerate, should be upfront about its ‘extreme and un-American’ political agenda, a national civil liberties watchdog group said Wednesday.” 18 Think of the words with generally positive connotations: civil liberties and watchdog . Negative connotations come from the words agenda and conglomerate .

To simply describe a thing: A fascinating example of this comes from an article titled “Drs. try to save brain-dead mom’s fetus.” The baby is referred to as a fetus throughout the article, except when a hospital spokesman is quoted as saying, “The odds are very slim, but the baby’s heart is beating.” 19

Or, consider Colorado’s Amendment Two, which would prevent laws giving gays protected civil rights status such as those that protect minority groups. Contrast that description with, “the amendment would ban laws that prevent discrimination against homosexuals,” 20 as it was described by the Associated Press.

Even punctuation can be used to convey meaning. In the following examples, a prayer rally is presented as something a bit odd, if not downright unsavory.

Abortion clinics brace for Operation Rescue
Saturday ‘prayer rally’ set for Robbinsdale
Operation Rescue officials confirmed Wednesday that their national director, the Rev. Keith Tucci, will be in the Twin Cities this weekend and will lead a “prayer rally” in front of a Robbinsdale abortion clinic on Saturday. 21

7. How are actions described?

What are the outcomes or results of the event being reported? Are these accurate? Consider an article entitled, “Teaching multicultural history instills pride, sense of place, educators find.” 22 The results of implementing presenting a multicultural curriculum are presented as overwhelmingly positive. However, the writer does not examine the results of this curriculum on the students’ standardized test scores. The program has raised self-esteem, but is that the only crucial criteria for evaluation?

8. What statistics are used?

Statistics can prove just about anything — and they can be misleading. A prime example is the accepted statistic that homosexuals comprise 10% of the population. 23 Recent studies indicate that 2-3% is more appropriate, 24 yet the 10% figure continues to be used.

9. What is left out of the news story?

This can include background sources, supporting materials or studies, and opposing viewpoints. Sometimes this omission is deliberate. However, in many cases it is simply irresponsible reporting. For example, consider the following news brief that was sent on the United Press International newswire:

(TRENTON, N.J.) — Some 15 million people could be getting parched if there is more global warming without an increase in rainfall. The U.S. Geological Survey says the Delaware River Basin which feeds Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York could be facing a serious drought if the overall temperature rises by just four degrees. That would cause stream flow to drop 27 percent and allow saltwater to back up in the Delaware into freshwater aquifers. 25

That is the entire story! Almost every possible detail was left out — why the U.S. Geological Survey said what it did, any supporting statistics or studies, or support for the controversial idea of global warming in general. This example also begins with the faulty assumption that global warming is already occurring, and points out the inherent difficulties in reporting news. This news clip was intended for a radio broadcast which leaves very little time for in-depth information. Also, notice all the conditional words, could , if , etc . . .

10. Where is the reader or listener led into faulty reasoning?

Consider the following example from United Press International:

MALDEN, Mass. (UPI) — The state Board of Education Tuesday approved a policy that encourages local school officials to implement programs to protect gay students from harassment and educate faculty members about gay issues. The policy believed to be first [ sic ] of its kind in the nation, was approved as part of an overall strategy intended to curb an increasing level of violence in schools, which in recent months has included the fatal shootings of a student and a librarian. The board, however, stopped short of recommending a gay studies curriculum to be offered in the public schools. 26

Unless the reader is thinking critically, he might assume the shootings cited in paragraph 2 were gay related — not so. The reader is led to assume that with increasing violence, gays will need protection.

TAKING ACTION

One of the difficulties with analyzing media reports is that the more you think critically, the more critical you become. It will become much harder to simply absorb the news. There are some positive actions you and your class can take to promote a more balanced approach to the news in your area. One key action is to make sure your local media outlets have access to credible sources. Gary Bauer, of the Family Research Council, is quoted often in secular media simply because he is one of the few people they know to contact for the “conservative Christian” viewpoint.

One of the best ways to do this is to distribute a media guide to all your local news sources. Find spokespeople on a variety of topics: women’s issues, the family, religion, education (private schools, Christian education, home school), abortion, etc. Make sure your spokespeople are reasonable and articulate — choose carefully. Be sure to include teens from your school who are willing to be interviewed. List the topics and spokespersons — including addresses; day and evening phone numbers; and a short biography to lend credibility.

Send the media guide with a cover letter to all newspapers, and radio and television stations in your area. They may or may not use it, but it will be kept on file. A reporter always appreciates a source who can be reached when a deadline is looming, and is willing to speak up in a manner that is easily quotable.

Also, begin to think of good stories for your local media. Some of the community service projects your class is doing could make a great “warm fuzzy” story. Let them know.

If your local newspaper or television station doesn’t have a “teen council” composed of students from area high schools — find a couple of interested students who would be willing to make the suggestion and serve on the council. Council members could serve as a sounding board on community issues affecting youth, be reporters, and take turns writing a weekly or daily “teen editorial.”

Of course, there are “hard passages” in the Bible (cf. 1 Peter 3:15ff. to see that even Peter could acknowledge that). If you have questions about such difficult passages, we recommend Gleason Archer’s book, New International Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties .
A lie is a contradiction of the truth. It is a denial of reality.
Of course, there are some people who still insist that such dichotomous thinking is incorrect. If it is not correct, however, then that means there is such a state as being correct. That then poses a dichotomy. They can’t escape the nature of reality.
The Apostle Paul warned the early Church about those who would teach a different Jesus and a different gospel (see 2 Corinthians 11:2-4,13-15; Galatians 1:6-9; see also 1 John 4:1-6). For a good survey and theological refutation of various pseudo-Christian religions, see Defending the Faith by Richard Abanes (Minneapolis: Bethany House, 1997).
This is not to say that the objects being compared do not share points of commonality; rather it is to say that points being compared to support the conclusion are not supported by the analogy.
Special thanks to Bill Jack and Jeff Myers for help on earlier editions of this material. Both Bill and Jeff are great examples of how to live inquisitively.
By opponent, we mean the person of whom you are asking questions. It does not mean your enemy.
To combat this particular argument, you can ask by which standard do they judge between good and evil. Keep in mind that atheists have no final universal standards by which to judge between good and evil. The existence of evil is actually a good argument for the existence of God. In the end, if God does not exist, then there is no such thing as evil either.
Be careful with this question because it can always be thrown back at you.
Another way of asking this question is, “Can you give us some sources who disagree with your opinion, explain their positions, and tell us what is wrong with their views?”
Another way of asking this question is, “Why should I believe you?” But you really need to be careful here. It is difficult to ask this question in a way that doesn’t seem snobbish.
“Life Gets Earlier Date of Origin,” Chicago Tribune , Sunday, May 2, 1993, Section 1, Page 28.
“Premise of ‘Indecent Proposal’ Disturbing,” Maryln Schwartz, Dallas Morning News in Colorado Springs, CO Gazette Telegraph , 4/26/93, p. D2.
“If every kid cared, the world would change,” Twin Cities Star Tribune , 4/22/93, p. 1B.
“Bikini ban in 2 Italian cities underlines new cultural clash,” Standard Examiner , Ogden, UT, 7/20/93, p. 5A.
Be aware of the use of the word “fundamentalist.” It is being applied indiscriminately to any religious group, whether a local church is protesting the location of an adult bookstore or David Koresh’s Branch Davidian cult near Waco, Texas.
“Official’s ban of fairy tale earns ‘citation’ for censorship,” The Clarion-Ledger , Jacksonville, MS 4/14/93, p. 12A.
“Watchdog says Focus hides aims,” D’Arcy Fallon, Gazette Telegraph , Colorado Springs, 4/29/93, p. B1.
“Drs. try to save brain-dead mom’s fetus,” The Commercial Appeal , Memphis, TN, 4/24/93, p. A4.
“Amendment 2 Boycott,” Associated Press newswire, 5/7/93.
“Abortion clinics brace for Operation Rescue,” Tim Nelson, Pioneer Press , St. Paul, MN, 4/22/93, p. 1A.
“Teaching multicultural history instills pride, sense of place, educators find,” Sandy Kleffman, San Francisco Chronicle , in Colorado Springs, CO Gazette Telegraph , 4/19/93, p. D2.
Kinsey, Alfred C., et al., Sexual Behavior in the Human Male (Philadelphia: Saunders Company, 1948).
Reinisch, June M., dir., The Kinsey Institute New Report on Sex (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1990), p. 147. See also Abraham Maslow and James M. Sakoda, “Volunteer Error in the Kinsey Study,” Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology 47 (April 1952), pp. 259-62.
First-Pennsylvania News in Brief, UPI newswire, 5/18/93, 3:19 am, EDT.
“Mass. Board of Education approves policy on gay students,” UPI newswire, 5/18/93 3:23 pm EDT.

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Critical Thinking for Christians

by Peter Kreeft

Description

In this essay on critical thinking, Peter Kreeft answers seven questions: what is "critical thinking"; where does it ultimately come from; how should it order our thoughts; how should it order our actions; how should it order our world; how should it order our spiritual warfare and finally, how will it order our Heavenly victory and peace after this warfare is accomplished.

Larger Work

Envoy Magazine

Publisher & Date

The Institute of Belmont Abbey College, July/August/September 2009

"Critical thinking" is simply the currently fashionable term for what used to be called "human reason." It means judging thoughts, negatively or positively, by these three standards, but it also includes at least four more things:

First, it includes generating thoughts, or creat ing thoughts. Man cannot create matter, like God, but he can create thoughts. What is usually called "creative thinking" in schools today is unjustifiably limited to creating new and original thoughts, which are usually shallow and foolish thoughts because most of us are shallow and foolish thinkers. In fact we are so shallow and foolish that we think that we are deep and wise, and we think that the new and original thoughts we have are better than the old and traditional thoughts of the past, which are the "tried and true" "cream of the crop" of thoughts from thousands of deeper and wiser minds than ours, thoughts that have been tested by time and by millions of other human beings, and which have survived the tsunami of forgetfulness that obliterates most of the memories of each generation, thoughts that have been judged precious and preserved by tradition. As Dorothy Sayers brilliantly pointed out long ago in Creed or Chaos, echoing G.K. Chesterton's Orthodoxy, Christian orthodoxy is the most truly creative and dramatic thought in the world, while every heresy comes from a lack of creativity. Hell has a very limited imagination. Contrast the limited imagination of the demon who tempts you to tediously repeat your besetting sin with the creative imagination of the Creator of the Big Bang, the quark, the Venus flytrap, the ostrich, and Monty Python.

Socrates was a great example of these virtues of courage, patience, and persistence in following a thought. He never abandoned his quest for the answer to the Delphic oracle's impossible puzzle of "know thyself," and even though he made some crucial errors in his solution to it, such as reincarnation, which he called "a likely story," and the ignoring of the body. Yet his persistence on this quest was the primary origin of Western philosophy, which is perhaps the second most beautiful flower that has ever grown in the soil of Western civilization, after Christianity.

Great philosophers are persistent, or in plainer language, stubborn. Augustine was stubborn, and ruthlessly honest, and fanatically intolerant of logical and personal error, and therefore he succeeded in breaking through a thousand intellectual and moral obstacles to become the second most influential Christian of all time, after St. Paul. Aquinas was stubborn. At age 4 he asked his teacher "What is God?" and because his teacher could not answer him, he eventually wrote the Summa Theologica. If you want to read a good book, sometimes you first have to write it yourself.

Even good atheists and agnostics can be great philosophers if they are stubborn. Camus was stubbornly honest, and had he lived, he might have become another Dostoyevski or Tolstoi. Heidegger was stubborn. All his long life and throughout his long winding trail of thinking and writing, he thought about nothing except being – he would not let the question go – and that is why he became, not the best, but probably the most important, philosopher of the 20th century.

Third, critical thinking also includes insisting on thinking consistently, which means daring to think two premises together and draw the logically necessary conclusion. This is the fundamental form of logical thinking, the syllogism. There is nothing uncreative about a syllogism. It is so creative, in fact, that it is very much like sexual intercourse, in that it produces a product, a thought-child, if we do not artificially contracept it by erecting a barrier between the premises and their conclusion, which we usually do, especially when we fear that the conclusion, like a baby, would be inconvenient to us.

For instance, it is almost universally admitted that these two premises are true but the conclusion is usually resisted: first, that there is a psycho- somatic unity to the human essence and, secondly, that our bodies, which are half of our essence, are masculine or feminine innately, not just by social convention. But rarely is the conclusion drawn that the other half of our essence, our souls, are therefore also innately, and not just conventionally, masculine or feminine. But it is logical. If body and soul are related as matter and form, it is no more possible to change one without changing the other than it is to change the words of a book without changing the meaning, or to change the meaning without changing the words. For they are also related as matter and form.

Here is another, closely related example: if this conclusion about innate masculinity or femininity of souls, in turn, is joined with the additional premise that our whole human identity will be preserved rather than lost in Heaven, that grace perfects nature rather than bypassing it, then I think we will derive some very daring but interesting conclusions about sexuality in Heaven, or at least we will dare to ask the question, dare to think about our two greatest passions together – sex and sanctity – which is something few modern theologians do. (John Paul II is the shining exception with his "theology of the body."). But to do this involves following the path of logical thinking to its end, not just beginning to follow it. It means letting the river of logic take the raft of your thoughts wherever it will take them rather than where you will take them (which is usually only where the Zeitgeist will take them, the social fashions and ideologies that have unconsciously formed your thoughts).

This aspect of critical thinking, drawing conclusions logically from your thoughts, involves not only seeing these logical consequences with the intellect but also acknowledging them with the will. And that requires moral as well as intellectual virtue, for it requires slaying the attractively disguised dragons of sloth which lurk next to each hard and unexpected turn taken by the path of thought. Sloth means not just any kind of laziness but the refusal to exert oneself when in the presence of a spiritual good; and it is a spiritual good to seek and find the truth, to follow the path of thinking, even when it is dark, to the light at the end of that tunnel; to think through a thought thoroughly; to do as good a job and build as sound a building with thoughts as we do with bricks or steel.

A fourth element of critical thinking is applying conclusions rightly in the practical order, letting our thought make a difference to our life, translating principles into practice. The single most crucial instance of this is one that is embarrassing to all of us, and worse than embarrassing. If we are Christians we all admit that the only way to true happiness is sanctity, not sin. We know this truth not only by faith but also by reason and by repeated experience. Everyone seeks deep, true, lasting happiness, and only the saints find it. Yet we are not saints. Every time we sin, we suffer, yet we keep sinning. Every time we overcome sin, we have deep joy, yet we keep refusing joy. God keeps offering us joy in His right hand and misery in His left, and we keep saying, "Duh, I think I'll try the left hand." We are, in other words, quite simply, insane. That's one of the meanings of Original Sin. If we only lived logically, we would all be saints. Instead, we think illogically and uncritically. We keep uncritically falling for the Devil's advertisements, eating the worms on his fish hooks. We desperately hope that there is some other way to happiness than God's way, even though no one has ever found it. That is not critical thinking!

For instance, every morning we are faced with our first choice of the day: do we give our first thoughts to God, do we take that first thought captive and bring it to the feet of our Lord, or do we claim it for ourselves and use it to gratify our own way to happiness, whatever we think that is? Do we yield our brain to the thousand tiny soldiers that run at it across the battlefields of waking consciousness, who threaten it with their tiny swords of worry thoughts and planning thoughts and “my will be done” thoughts? Or do we mercilessly murder those little bastards from Hell by the authority and power of the God who is a consuming fire, and trust ourselves and our day to Him? Do we think: I am going to be so busy today that I have no time to pray? Or do we think: I am going to be so busy today that I must begin my day with prayer, because if I do not give Christ the meager loaves and fishes of my time, they will not be multiplied and at the end of the day I will be frazzled and frizzled like hair in a hurricane? Usually, we selfishly eat these loaves and fishes ourselves, fearing any diminution of them if we give them to the One who alone can multiply them and always does, if we give them up – which we well know from repeated experience. We all know the results of these two experiments: every single day of our lives we have performed one or the other of them, and the results have never varied. Yet we insist on singing Sinatra's song "I Did It My Way" instead of "God's Way is the Best Way" day after day, even though Sinatra's song is the song they all sing as they enter Hell, while the other one is the one they all sing on the way to Heaven.

This fourth aspect of critical thinking – its practical application – is of course the most important one of all because it makes the biggest difference to our lives. In fact "important" may fairly be defined as "making a difference to your life." Buddha knew the life-changing importance of critical thinking better than most of us do. The very first and best known line of the best known and best loved Buddhist book, the Dhammapada, says:

"All that we are is determined by our thoughts; it begins where our thoughts begin, it moves where our thoughts move, it ends where our thoughts end."

This is even more crucial to a Christian, who knows that the end of the road is not just temporal but eternal happiness or misery. As one obscure writer has reminded us:

"Sow a thought, reap an act; Sow an act, reap a habit; Sow a habit, reap a character; Sow a character, reap a destiny."

Buddha was right: "all that we are is determined by our thoughts."

So for a Christian, critical thinking means not only thinking that has been purged of illogic but also of sin; not only thinking that has been subjected to the honest judgment of the theoretical reason, but also to the honest judgment of the practical reason, or reason about practice, i.e. moral reason.

The judgment of the theoretical reason consists in these three logical questions: (1) what does it mean? (2) is it true? and (3) what is the evidence or proof? In other words, are there any ambiguous terms, are there any false premises, and are there any logical fallacies? If not, the conclusion is true.

The judgment of the practical, moral reason consists in a single question: is this good or evil? A crucial difference between the judgment of the theoretical reason and the judgment of the practical reason is that the judgment of the practical reason is almost always clear, and immediate, and certain. We know what is good and what is evil far more clearly than we know what is true and false. Our conscience is louder than our logic. Most problems of discerning God's will are moral, not intellectual. Jesus Himself said, when asked by the Pharisees how they could understand His teaching, "If your will were to do the will of my Father, you would understand my teaching." That is the most important principle of critical thinking about morality.

My first point is finished: what I mean by "critical thinking." Over half our work is over.

My second point is that reason, or critical thinking, comes from God. It is God's gift.

But how can that be true if it is something we do and something we are responsible for? God does not do our critical thinking for us.

It is God's gift for two reasons. First, because it is the exercise of an essential part of the image of God in us. God does not think our thoughts for us, yet our minds are dependent on God's mind just as totally as the existence of the physical universe is dependent on God’s will to “let it be” and on God’s power to do all that He wills. Our minds are mirrors, and God is the sun, and all the light we generate is reflected light from Him; yet it is our choice to turn our mirrors to the sun or not, and to keep them clean or not, and to keep them unbroken or to break them into fragments. Every time we think wrongly, we misuse a divine gift, just as whenever we misuse our free will we misuse a divine gift. Both wrong thinking and wrong choosing are sacrileges, because they desecrate a holy thing. What we pervert in wrong thinking is the mirrored powers of God's own mind that He gave us in giving us His own image. We pervert this image whenever we move our minds into the dark and away from the light, just as we pervert the mirrored powers of God's will which He gave us in giving us free will as part of His image in us, whenever we move our wills to evil and away from good. God continues to uphold in existence His spiritual gifts, the two powers of His image in us, even when we pervert them, just as He continues to uphold the physical universe even when we misuse it. At the moment when He said "Be" in creating the universe, he said "continue to be" to Cain's rock even as it split Abel's head, and to the nails we used to pierce His own Son's flesh on the Cross.

The second reason critical thinking is God's gift is because grace perfects nature, and this is an essential part of human nature, the ability and the desire to think logically as a means to thinking truly.

The fact that grace perfects nature means that the very same things that are truly ours, and come from our own human nature and activity, can be truly God's, and from the actions of His grace. (This principle, by the way, is the central and simple key to reconciling free will and predestination: what is divinely predestined is precisely our truly free choices.)

My third, fourth, and fifth points will be very short because we all know the answer to them pretty well.

The third question is: How should critical thinking order our thoughts? And my answer is: Unconscious time but by conscious decision sometimes, especially those times when it is hardest and we are most tempted to laziness.

There are many other good ways of thinking than thinking logically –thinking intuitively or mystically or imaginatively or romantically or even sometimes randomly – and there are many occasions when we should think non-logically, but there are never times when we should think illogically, except when we are deliberately making a joke, laughing at laughable follies. But our lives should not be laughable follies.

Thus the answer to this third question, how critical thinking should order our thoughts, is also the answer to the fourth question, how it should order our actions. For "Sow a thought, reap an act." It takes the will, not the mind, to carry out the thought into the act, and between the thought and the act lies many a shadow. But that is a topic for another day, when we talk about moral vices and virtues.

We should "live according to reason," said the ancient Greeks, meaning not that we should be computers rather than human beings, but that we should be human beings rather than animals. Reason is not limited to logic, though logic is one of the things that sharply distinguish human reason from animal consciousness. The meaning of that great old word "Reason" was arbitrarily narrowed to "calculation" beginning with Descartes and the Enlightenment (which I prefer to call the Endarkenment) and with the restriction of all approved thinking to what can be proved by the scientific method – which, of course, is self-contradictory since that very principle cannot be proved by the scientific method! Confusing life with a laboratory is not what it means to live according to reason. Moral conscience, aesthetic appreciation, intelligent, responsible religious faith, intuitive wisdom, and even mystical experience are all part of the powers of human reason in the broad old honorable Greek sense of the word. Sometimes I think half the world’s problems would be solved if the whole world had to speak ancient Greek. It would be like Pentecost: an undoing of the Tower of Babel.

And the fifth question, how critical thinking should order our secular world, is simply an extension of the fourth question, how it should order our individual lives, for the life of the world is simply the coming together of all our individual lives.

Just think for a moment what a radical revolution it would be if the whole world practiced just one basic virtue of thought, the virtue of honesty – not just honesty with each other but honesty with yourself and with the truth.

The world does not lack the knowledge of solutions to its problems; almost any one of the basic virtues –justice, charity, gratitude, compassion, wisdom, honesty – if practiced, would transform the world from a vale of tears to a palace of joys. How to attain this Utopian dream? There is a very simple way: one person at a time. You have only an appallingly tiny control over whether others join this radical revolution, but you have an appallingly large control, and responsibility, over whether you do. Start working for world peace and justice and understanding. Start inside the walls of your house.

The sixth question is: How should critical thinking order our jihad, our spiritual warfare? We are soldiers of the King, and the purpose of our life on earth is to work and fight for His kingdom. We are at war with the enemies of peace, because He is. He told us that: "I came not to bring peace but a sword." His kingdom is a Kingdom of peace. He wants us to make peace with the three parties we are at war with: neighbor and self and God; and therefore His Kingdom is at war with the world, the flesh, and the devil, who are at war with neighbor, self, and God. If we are Christians, we fight; but if we are Christians we fight with weapons like poverty and chastity and obedience, for we fight against enemies like greed and lust and pride. Now how is critical thinking a weapon in this war?

The enemy in this war is Satan and his fallen angels, of course – unless our Lord, His Church, and His Book are all fools or liars. As you know if you have read C.S. Lewis's masterful expose of the enemy's strategy called The Screwtape Letters, the enemy's two strongest strategies are: Dim the Lights and Divide and Conquer. "Dim the Lights" means "Don't let them think clearly and honestly." "Divide and Conquer" means "Make them hate and resent and mistrust each other and wrestle against each other rather than against the principalities and powers of darkness in high places." Thus "Divide and conquer" also depends on "Dim the lights" for it means "Confuse them about who their enemy really is." No medical operation can be carried out without light, and no military operation can either. No matter how powerful an army is, if it is blind, it will lose. A blind Cyclops will lose to a clever Ulysses. A blind Christian will lose to a clever devil.

One form of blindness that is very hard for us to detect in ourselves is a skewered perspective, majoring in minors, missing forests for trees. A shining example of a man who is trying to restore a right perspective today is Pope Benedict, especially in his recent Regensburg address, which from the perspective of the destiny of Western civilization is perhaps the most important speech since Alexandr Solzhenitsyn's 1978 Harvard Commencement Address. Benedict does not see Islamic terrorists as the primary problem in today's world. They are only a symptom of a deeper issue in the Islamic world: is Allah a God of reason or of force? Is Heto be worshipped because He is powerful or because He is good? Christianity gave a sharp and unmistakable answer to that question, on Calvary. If Islam gives the same answer, or something like the same answer, something close to the same answer, then we invite them to join us in an ecumenical jihad, a common spiritual warfare in the name of our common God against our common enemy, which is modern Western atheism, secularism, and relativism, the apostasy and rebellion against that God on the part of the nations of the West that made up the civilization that used to be called Christendom.

To have that kind of clear perspective is like being a lookout on the “Titanic,” or the little boy in “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” It certainly deserves the title “ critical thinking” because it is thinking rightly about crisis .

Many more things could be said, but I will end soon, with my last point, the eschatological or Heavenly dimension of critiical thinking, because I want to give you time to digest this. For it seems to me that that is the highest purpose of communication: to stimulate thought, which naturally expresses itself in questions and dialog. Talks are monologs. Dialogs are better. In fact, monologs exist for the sake of dialogs. The nature of ultimate reality is not monolog but dialog: it is called the Trinity. I have always thought of talks as something like diving boards and dialog afterward as something like swimming pools, and I am impatient with speakers who act like they have squatter's rights on diving boards. As you are probably now impatient with this article that is taking many minutes to end, rather than just ending!

What will critical thinking be in Heaven? Will it be part of the Beatific Vision? Or will it be a kind of comic relief from the Beatific Vision? I really don't know, but here is my guess. I think the Beatific Vision is much more ordinary-looking than we think. I think Jesus had it all the time, until it was taken away in that moment of Hell on the Cross when He said, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" [Ed. note: Here we could wish Kreeft expressed himself more clearly. As you read on, you'll see that he is not saying that the Beatific Vision is "ordinary", but suggesting that possessing it does not necessary produce astonishing exterior manifestations, such that we would not be able to interact with others in what we might loosely describe as an ordinary way. This also explains his reference to Christ Who, in fact, did have the beatific vision in His human nature by virtue of the hypostatic union of His human and divine natures (the Church teaches this), and Who could still interact with others in an ordinary human way. So true is this, in fact, that we must also beware of saying that Christ lost the beatific vision at any time, since this would suggest that the hypostatic union had been broken, which would mean that Christ ceased to be Christ, the God-man, one Divine person with two natures. So again we must excuse Kreeft for writing a little loosely. Here we must understand him to be suggesting that Our Lord may have permitted His human nature to fail to feel the consolations of the Beatific Vision, as presumably also happened when He sweat blood through a psycho-somatic dread of His coming ordeal in His Agony in the Garden. There is a good deal of mystery here, and this is not Kreeft's central topic. Given Kreeft's stellar commitment to Catholic orthodoxy in all his writings, it is only fair to interpret these almost off-hand remarks in an orthodox sense.] I think the saints in Heaven have the Beatific Vision all the time yet nevertheless can converse with us without haloes, without fits of distraction, and without losing the ability to make a joke. I think that, because that's what Jesus was like. He was fully human, remember, as well as fully divine at the same time: "like us in all things save sin." Jesus was not a mystic; or, if He was, He was a mystic and a perfectly ordinary man at the same time, so ordinary that most men missed His divinity. The greatest saint of the worst century in history, Mother Teresa, was totally ordinary: earthy as the earth, humble as humus, grounded as a grandmother. And her mind was like a small, sharp kitchen knife. It cut instantly through layers of baloney.

Do you want to see what critical thinking looks like? Read everything Mother Teresa ever said. And read John Paul the Great. And Augustine, and Aquinas. Complete, Heavenly critical thinking, the thing we are training for here, has all four of those dimensions at once, Like Jesus Himself. It is as profoundly logical as Aquinas, and as profoundly practical as Mother Teresa, and as profoundly visionary as John Paul II. I suggest these four models for your imitation and as your training for critical thinking on earth and in Heaven.

Dr. Peter Kreeft is the author of nearly 50 books. When he is not writing books, he somehow finds the time to be a professor of philosophy at Boston College.

This item 9243 digitally provided courtesy of CatholicCulture.org

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How can i resist a critical spirit.

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Audio Transcript

Today we address a critical spirit. The question comes to us from a listener named Alan. Here’s his email. “Pastor John, thank you for your insight on many topics in this podcast. My question for you is this: What does the Bible say about a critical spirit? What is a critical spirit? I assume holding high expectations is not the same thing as having a ‘critical spirit.’ So when do high expectations become sinful judgmentalism? And how can I fight against this tendency of focusing mostly on the failures of others?”

Wired to Be Critical

That last question is exactly the right question to ask for all of us, and I include myself here. John Piper is wired to be critical. I remember taking a personality test, I think it was Myers-Briggs, ages ago. And my letters came back. I can’t remember exactly, but I think it was INTJ or something like that. This is not the kind of person you want to live with. I remember they said, “Okay, here is your number, Piper, and here’s the narration of what that personality type is like.” And do you know what one of the mottoes was? The motto was, “There’s always room for improvement.”

Now, it’s good to know that about yourself, because it means that you’re a hard person to live with. Nobody likes to be under an incessantly scrupulous eye that basically says, “Well, no matter how hard and how well you do your job, it could have been done better.” I mean, that makes for a pretty oppressive marriage or Sunday school class or church. So I had to be really on top of the sinful proclivities of this way that I was just born. There are no excuses here. I’m not trying to make anything easy.

That’s why I say this last question is so right: What can we do, or how can we think, or are there steps we can take so that we do not become hypercritical people? And if we’re wired that way, can we be changed or exercise self-control to channel it into properly analytical efforts and not people-ruining ones?

Combatting a Critical Spirit

So what are the strategies that I have found in the Bible and in my own life that might be helpful here not to be a hypercritical or judgmental person? You’d have to ask my wife how successful I’ve been at this, but I’m sure bent on being better.

1. Recognize your own faults.

Let’s zero in on the word judgmental , just because Alan referred to it, and Jesus addresses it directly.

Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, “Let me take the speck out of your eye,” when there is the log in your own eye? (Matthew 7:3–4)

In other words, “I’m a super hypercritical person; I see specks everywhere.” But how can you talk about taking the speck out of another’s eye when you’ve got a log hanging out of your own eye? Jesus says,

You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. (Matthew 7:5)

So, Jesus’s answer to the question of how not to be hypercritical about the speck in your brother’s eye is to be deeply aware of the log in your own. Now, I don’t think that means that the very thing you spot in the other person, which you think is a speck, is worse in you than in him. I don’t think it means that. That doesn’t work. But what it means is that there’s plenty about me, before God and man, that should disincline me to be quick to judge others for specks, because if I got the just judgment that I deserved, it would be devastating.

That’s, I think, the gist of what it means, and it really, really works. I mean, that has a deep effect on slowing down your criticism of others, or at least de-intensifying it, because you know that if God were to treat you with the same rigor that you’re now treating another person, you’d be undone.

2. Remember what you’ve been saved from.

This is really an extension of the first point. Never lose sight of what you have been saved from, or how much it cost, and how much remaining corruption there is still in you. And I base this on Ephesians 4:32: “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another , as God in Christ forgave you.”

“We treat people better than they deserve because God treats us better than we deserve.”

Forgiving as you have been forgiven carries an implication. And the implication is this: being ready to treat people way better than they deserve, because we have been treated so much better than we deserve. So even though we don’t call it forgiveness when we are less critical at the front end of a relationship, the root is the same. We treat people better than they deserve because God treats us better than we deserve. And it cost Christ his life for God to treat us that way.

3. Give thanks.

Fill your heart and mouth with thanksgiving for everything. Ephesians 5:20: “[Give] thanks always and for everything.” Be an amazingly overflowing thankful person. In other words, be radically, radically grateful. Practice waking up in the morning with thankfulness, walking through the day with thankfulness, going to bed at night with thankfulness, because a thankful spirit pushes out a critical spirit.

4. Grow in love.

Meditate on what love is and how essential love is to the Christian. What does it mean to love people? And I think most of us should memorize all of 1 Corinthians 13. That chapter is only 13 verses long. It’s the most important chapter on love in the Bible. And you can memorize it in a week if you put your mind to it, and then say it to yourself over and over again for a year or so, and see what happens.

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:4–7)

Goodnight! Memorize that, say it and say it, pray it and pray it, until it’s you, and God will heal you of much of your hypercritical spirit.

5. Ask how criticism helps.

This is really pragmatic. People doubt the value of this, and I’ll explain why they shouldn’t. Ask yourself this: What good is it going to do for anyone for me to constantly feel so critical of others? What good is it going to do anybody — me or them? Now, you may think a question like that is emotionally useless: “So what? I mean that doesn’t change me. Asking that question doesn’t change me. It doesn’t help me.”

Well, if that were true, if that question were useless, why did Jesus say, when he was trying to help us overcome anxiety — which is just as hard to get rid of as a critical spirit — “And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?” (Matthew 6:27). So, here’s my paraphrase: It doesn’t do any good to be anxious. It’s pointless. Nothing happens, right? Well, why are you anxious? You’re accomplishing nothing.

And I know a lot of people here, then, say, “Well, how does that help?” So say that about being hypercritical: it just doesn’t do any good. Now that’s not the only strategy, but add that to your arsenal of weapons because Jesus said that’s a good question to ask when it comes to a lot of sins: What good are they doing? Are you helping anybody with that particular bent?

6. Look at the world.

Cultivate a view of life, hour by hour, that is more expansive — bigger heart, global, universal, all-encompassing, God-entranced. Look at the whole of life. Look at the whole of the universe. Look at the whole of nature. Look how big it is, and look at all of its dazzling wonders, and be amazed at the world you’re walking through.

So my favorite lit teacher in college, Clyde Kilby, put it like this. (This is one of his resolutions for mental health .)

I shall open my eyes and ears. Once every day I shall simply stare at a tree, a flower, a cloud, or a person. I shall not then be concerned at all to ask what they are but simply be glad that they are. I shall joyfully allow them the mystery of what Lewis calls their “divine, magical, terrifying and ecstatic” existence.

So this afternoon, I’m walking back after chapel, across my revelatory bridge, listening on my phone to the history of the Baptists, and it hit me: Turn that thing off. You can listen to that while you’re brushing your teeth. You are walking under God’s blue sky. Look up. Look at those clouds, John. Just look at them. Let him minister to you. You’re inside all day long. You get ten minutes under God’s glory, and you’re going to listen to a book?

“A thankful spirit pushes out a critical spirit.”

Much of our hypercritical bent is owing to the fact that our world has shrunk down to the tiny little situation where this molehill of a speck in a person’s eye — this molehill of a problem — looks a hundred times bigger than it really is because we have made our world so small that this feels big. We have focused our lens so narrowly that we can’t see the glories all around us. So that’s number six.

7. Praise always.

Fill your mind and your heart and your mouth with praise. That’s very much like thanks, but not quite the same. Decades ago, I read this quote from C.S. Lewis. Tony knows it. Lots of you who are listening probably have heard this. Let me say it again, just because it’s so healing. Oh, my goodness. When I first read this, it just washed over me like a cleansing flood for how not to be a cranky person. Here’s what Lewis said about praise:

The most obvious fact about praise . . . strangely escaped me. I thought of it in terms of compliment, approval, or the giving of honor. I had never noticed that all enjoyment spontaneously overflows into praise. . . . The world rings with praise — lovers praising their mistresses, readers their favourite poet, walkers praising the countryside, players praising their favourite game — praise of weather, wines, dishes, actors, motors, horses, colleges, countries, historical personages, children, flowers, mountains, rare stamps, rare beetles, even sometimes politicians or scholars. . . . I had not noticed how the humblest, and at the same time most balanced and capacious, minds, praised most, while the cranks, misfits and malcontents [and may I add: hypercritical types, INTJ types] praised least. ( Reflections on the Psalms , 109–10)

So there it is. The remedy to not be a cranky, hypercritical misfit is to be full of praise. So, fix your eyes on God and the wonders of his creation and redemption, and be filled with praise.

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"Thinking Critically, Reading Faithfully: Critical Biblical Scholarship in the Christian College Classroom"

2014, Criswell Theological Review

In religion departments across America, anecdotes abound of brilliant young students who —knowing too much for their own good— go to their small-church pastors and ask the perennial stumper: How did God make light before the sun? Or: Can you help me understand how Jesus is fully God and fully man? Or possibly: Where are dinosaurs in the Bible? At which point the student is told in so many words, “You just need to stop asking those kind of questions and believe.” Tragically, these students then slump away, intellectually baffled and spiritually deflated. These students simultaneously label themselves a “bad” Christian and wonder if they are even a Christian at all. Is faithful Christianity truly represented by the “do not ask questions; just believe what you are told” position presented here?

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Christians in the West struggle with intellectual doubt more than they used to, especially university-educated Christians. It is common for young Christians to go off to college assured in their beliefs but, in the course of their first year, they meet powerful defenses of scientific naturalism and the basic Christian story (BCS, for short) in particular. What they learned at home or church seems much less plausible to them, and many are thrown into doubt. They think to themselves something like this: "To be honest, I am troubled about the BCS. While the problem of evil, the apparent cultural basis for the diversity of religions, the explanatory breadth of contemporary science, naturalistic explanations of religious experience and miracle reports, and textual and historical criticism of the Bible, among other things, don't make me believe the BCS is false, I am in serious doubt about it, so much so that I lack belief of it. In that case, how can I have Christian faith? And if I don't have faith, how can I keep on praying, attending church, affirming the creed, confessing my sins, taking the sacraments, singing the hymns and songs, and so on? I can't, unless I'm a hypocrite. So integrity requires me to drop the whole thing and get out." Of course, our student is not alone. Many Christians find themselves for some portion of their lives somewhere on the trajectory from doubt to getting out. What should we say to them? Some will say "Get out!", welcoming the development as a path to liberation. We'd like to explore a different response. We begin by affirming the integrity these Christians display by aiming to live in accordance with their best judgment. Further, we can address the basis of their doubt. But we suspect that many of them-perhaps quite rightly-will still be in enough doubt to cancel belief. They have a problem, a practical problem: should I sacrifice my integrity to stay in, or should I preserve my integrity and get out? Call this the problem of the trajectory from doubt to getting out. Christians in the West generally have an interest in responding to this problem, not least because of the plummeting population of youth in the Church, many of whom leave precisely because of their doubt. For those of us who are not in doubt and who deem the grounds for the BCS adequate for belief, there is still the matter of relating well to those who think otherwise. We suspect that a satisfying response will require Christian communities to rethink what authentic participation requires cognitively, and to find ways to encourage doubters-young and old-to participate with integrity despite their doubt. Notice that the problem presupposes that if you have enough doubt to cancel belief, then you can't have faith. We propose to examine this presupposition. Toward that end, we will assess three theories of faith, plump for one of them, and then apply it to the problem of the trajectory.

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Christian M M Brady

Jonathan Van Santen

In this study, a university professor, a high school teacher, and two teacher-candidates engage in an inquiry into the identity and integrity of the religious studies teacher. Using Charteris’s (2014) ‘epistemological shudders’ as a framework, the authors explore the experience of learning to teach Bible in Christian schools by paying attention to the ways in which their experience with the unfamiliar intersected with their taken-for-granted beliefs and perspectives. The authors believe such reflections on experience are essential in particular to teachers of the Bible in Christian schools, but also, more generally, for ongoing lifelong teacher growth. This paper offers insights into how inquiry can be used as a method in a teacher education context. It also serves as an example of the importance of the partnership between universities and schools in the education of future teachers.

Douglas Shantz

I sum up my own approach to studying and teaching religion in terms of two motives: curiosity and respect. Curiosity includes a childlike interest in what really happened in the Christian past, and why; it also includes a certain adult cynicism and maturity that does not take things at face value. But to really probe the religious past also requires empathy and respect, so we do not too quickly make dismissive judgments and sabotage patient study and reflection. It is hard to keep these two motives of curiosity and respect in balance, and to value them equally in our academic work. But we do our students a disservice if we fail to keep the balance and allow both to inspire our study and teaching.

Laura Duhan-Kaplan

Today, in some political circles, lack of critical thinking is a marker of belonging. Some religious communities actively teach people to avoid critical thinking. And legislators in some US states are moving to make some kinds of critical thinking illegal. Here I explore how this decay of critical thinking emerged, and how religious communities can respond. First, I focus on the role our changing media technologies played. Then, I note why some political actors exploit these media trends. Finally, I describe strategies religious communities can use to weave critical thinking education into their liturgy, preaching, scripture study, and classes. To do this, I offer three examples from my own Jewish tradition, based on early rabbinic traditions of midrash (Biblical interpretation), chavruta (paired study), and liturgy. To craft this interdisciplinary exploration, I draw on the work of historians, journalists, educators, media theorists, political scientists, biblical scholars, and theologians.

James Callahan

The general complaint against recent Christianity is its lack of identity (specifically, its reliance on prevailing power-and thought-forms and therefore acquiescence to find approval). Christianity lacks Christian faith-this is the most direct charge. And any effort to critically realize alternatives engenders halfway measures at best in response to legitimate questions raised against the enfranchisement of Christianity and its sacred texts. The very premise allows for the defectability of Christianity. But this is something Christianity insists is impossible. This paper was shared among graduate students in religious studies for a recent discussion of alternative forms of criticism directed against inherited forms of Christian faith. This alternative employs the early anabaptistic experiences and the Schleitheim statement, but shouldn't be read as an anabaptistic document (they wouldn't like it).

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Faith, Reason, and Critical Thinking

It is not unusual to hear discussions of the relationship between faith and reason, or science and religion, cast in terms of the blind acceptance of unquestionable propositions (religion) versus careful, skeptical, and critical rational reflection (science). Indeed, one of the hallmarks of religious faith, at least as commonly depicted in a great deal of our daily public discourse, is that it rests on claims that are “incontestable”—that is, impervious to skeptical scrutiny, empirical or logical analysis, or rational dispute. In contrast, scientific or secular knowledge claims are presumed to rest on “evidence” and the sure foundation of rational and/or empirical demonstration. As Suzanna Sherry (1996) has written, for example, someone operating under the epistemology of faith is “able to ignore contradictions, contrary evidence, and logical implications. Indeed, one test of faith is its capacity to resist the blandishments of rationality; the stronger the rational arguments against a belief, the more faith is needed to adhere to it” (p. 482). In contrast, “secular science and liberal politics, both committed to the primacy of reason, necessarily deny that any truth is incontestable” (p. 479).

Contrary to the naïve assumption that faith and reason must necessarily have a mutually allergic relationship, religious belief can often be strengthened and supported by critical, rational reflection. Indeed, as people of faith, we should always be willing to think critically about all of our beliefs. This does not mean we should approach intellectual questions about doctrines and beliefs with an attitude of scholarly aloofness or dismissive skepticism, nor does it mean that we should adopt a disparaging or fault-finding stance towards religious teachings. Good critical thinkers are not, as is sometimes uncritically assumed, relentless skeptics who—in Nietzsche’s (1967) memorable phrase—“worship the question mark itself as God” (p. 156). Being careful and reflective is not in any way incompatible with also being deeply optimistic and full of hope. Rather, thinking critically means that we look at our assumptions and contrast them with alternatives.

When we think critically, then, we question our basic assumptions in the light of competing or alternative assumptions. This does not necessarily mean we doubt or dismiss our assumptions—that is (again) the flawed fixation of the skeptic. Rather, it means we take them seriously by examining their origins and implications. For example, we might ask, “What does our belief system require of us that a contrasting belief system does not, and why?” Or, we might ask, “If this idea or belief is true, then where does it take me, both logically and practically, if I run with it all the way to its farthest implications?” Such questions are not full of skeptical and paralyzing doubt, but can rather reflect the attempt to more deeply understand (and live) our beliefs. It can also reflect a sincere desire to winnow out the chaff of sloppy thinking or incomplete understanding of our religious faith and spiritual commitments.

When we think critically in this way, we can better understand how our faith (and its assumptions about the world) differs from other perspectives and other beliefs, and what those differences might mean for us. Critical thinking can help us identify, and perhaps even reject, ideas that undermine the core assumptions of our faith. Conversely, it can help us be more open to ideas that do not contradict the core assumptions of our faith, but which at first glance may seem to do so. In short, by learning to think critically, coupled with the guiding influence of spiritual sensitivity, we can become more discerning and thoughtful religious believers. Remember, even Christ, the Son of God, amidst unimaginable suffering and agony upon the cross at Calvary, was willing to ask His Father a deep and troubling question:

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:46).

Now, I assume it is possible that in that moment of utter extremity the Son of God, the Creator of the Universe, and the Savior of all mankind chose to abandon His faith and give in to the temptations of radical skepticism… but I doubt it. There is more than a little irony in Sherry’s claim that for the secularist committed to the primacy of reason no truth claim is incontestable, especially given that such a claim is itself an incontestable truth claim (see, Beckwith, 2015 for a more detailed discussion of this issue).

Beckwith, F. J. (2015). Taking rites seriously: Law, politics, and the reasonableness of faith. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.

Nietzsche, F. (1967). The genealogy of morals (W. Kaufmann and R. J. Hollingdale, Trans.). New York, NY: Random House.

Sherry, S. (1996). Enlightening the religious clauses. Journal of Contemporary Legal Issues, 7 (1), 473-495.

July 1, 2012

How Critical Thinkers Lose Their Faith in God

Faith and intuition are intimately related

By Daisy Grewal

Why are some people more religious than others? Answers to this question often focus on the role of culture or upbringing. Although these influences are important, new research suggests that whether we believe or not may also have to do with how much we rely on intuition versus analytic thinking. In 2011 researchers from Harvard University published a paper showing that people who have a tendency to rely on their intuition are more likely to believe in God. They also showed that encouraging people to think intuitively increased people's belief in God.

Building on these results in an article published in Science recently , Will Gervais and Ara Norenzayan of the University of British Columbia found that encouraging people to think analytically reduced their tendency to believe in God. Taken together, these findings suggest belief may stem at least in part from our thinking styles.

Gervais and Norenzayan's research is based on the idea that we possess two different ways of thinking that are related. Understanding these two ways, which are often referred to as system 1 and system 2, may be important for understanding our tendency toward having religious faith. System 1 thinking relies on shortcuts and rules of thumb, whereas system 2 relies on analytic thinking and tends to be slower and to require more effort. Solving logical and analytic problems may require that we override our system 1 thinking processes to engage system 2. Psychologists have developed a number of clever techniques that spur us to do this. Using some of these techniques, Gervais and Norenzayan examined whether engaging system 2 leads people away from believing in God and religion.

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In one activity, Gervais and Norenzayan gave participants sets of five randomly arranged words (such as “high winds the flies plane”) and asked them to drop one word and rearrange the others to construct a more meaningful sentence (such as “the plane flies high”). Those participants who unscrambled sentences that contained words related to analytical thinking (such as “reason” or “ponder”) were less likely to express agreement with the statement that God exists. People's prior belief in whether God exists, as measured several weeks before the study took place, was found to be unrelated to the results.

In another experiment, the investigators used an even more subtle way of activating analytic thinking: by having participants fill out a survey measuring their religious beliefs that was printed either in a clear font or in one that was difficult to read. Prior research has shown that a difficult-to-read font promotes analytic thinking by forcing volunteers to slow down and deliberate more carefully about the meaning of what they are reading. The researchers found that participants who completed a survey that was printed in an unclear font expressed less belief as compared with those who filled out the same survey in the clear font.

These studies demonstrate yet another way in which our thinking tendencies, many of which may be innate, have contributed to religious faith. It may also help explain why the vast majority of Americans tend to believe in God. Because system 2 thinking requires effort, most of us tend to rely on our system 1 thinking processes whenever possible.

COMMENT AT ScientificAmerican.com/jul2012

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Sermon: Critical Thinking and Faith in God

Posted on January 11, 2019
Apologetics , Sermon , The Bible
Apologetics , Critical Thinking , faith , Logic
Comments: 0

09_23_2018_criticalthinkingandfaithingod_donruhl

Critical Thinking and Faith in God

Does critical thinking lead to the abandonment of faith?

Hebrews 11.1–3

Don Ruhl • Savage Street, Grants Pass, Oregon • September 23, In the year of our Lord, 2018

This caught my attention first, “How Critical Thinkers Lose Their Faith in God” ( Scientific American Online , May 1, 2012)
That article was based on, “Analytic Thinking Promotes Religious Disbelief” ( Science , 27 Apr 2012: Vol. 336, Issue 6080, pp. 493–496)
One image they claimed made people more analytical and unbelieving,
The first image was that of Rodin’s The Thinker.
The second image was that of Discobulus of Myron.
This is how they tested whether critical/analytic thinking led people away from believing in God and religion.
They would have found an abundance of religious people who have critical and analytic thinking skills and an abundance of nonreligious people who have critical and analytical thinking skills.
They also would have found an abundance of religious people who are not so good at critical and analytic thinking and an abundance of nonreligious people who are not so good at critical and analytic thinking.
You know some believers whom you would classify as thinkers and you know some unbelievers whom you would classify as thinkers.
You also know some believers who just do not think at all and some unbelievers who also do not think.
Most scientists say he is the greatest scientist of all time.
Yet, he wrote more on God and the Bible than he did on science.
many followed him and
he conquered and established a new nation.
many religious men came together and
Did they accomplish such a great feat with mere intuition?
You get together with a group of people and see if you can build a nation or anything!
Thinkers tend not to believe in God.
Believers in God tend to rely on intuition.
They believe that their field of study surpasses all the rest.
Although they themselves do not practice it.
None of them saw the Big Bang but they believe evidence supports it.
they believe there is evidence to support it.
We did not see creation but believe evidence and testimony for it.
evidence, and
they prey upon the unsuspecting or the gullible.
that never come to pass,
they do not know how to understand the Bible, but
that does not make religion, belief, & faith inherently guess work.
I have done searches on their web site for “Fraud” and “Misconduct.”
The one on “Misconduct” had 191 articles.
My point is this:
They all have the same problems of living.
They all sometimes rely on critical/analytical thinking and
they all sometimes rely on intuition.
You probably thought that science was supposed to be skeptical and
that they cherish for which they will not allow
If you do question them,
you are incompetent.
Christians will often refer to evolution as a theory or
However, that is not correct.
That evolution happened is a fact.
How it happened is a theory.
if you claim that we did not arrive by evolution, but
then it is because you are not a critical thinker.
You merely rely on intuition or an authority.
They are objective.
You are subjective.
that if you are religious you go the easy way: “System 1 [intuition, DR] thinking relies on shortcuts and other rules-of-thumb while System 2 relies on analytic thinking and tends to be slower and require more effort” (“How Critical Thinkers Lose Their Faith in God,” Scientific American , May 1, 2012).
Therefore, if you are religious you are not qualified to question them.

Persuasion :

religious or not religious,
How do you get knowledge?
The opposite of haste would be discerning, discriminating, wisdom, and thoughtfulness.
Someone teaches the people knowledge
seeking out and setting in orders wise sayings.
That is thinking and it is not mere intuition.
be my guest and next week
prepare two full-length sermons and
Then the week after that,
Since I have been here for 16 years in 8 days,
that means over 3,300 lessons.
you have to do what Solomon said,
pondering what you have learned and
seeking out the way you want to say things.
You have done the work of reading, meditating, and studying.
then you express yourself in the best way that you know how.
Scientists do not have corner on this.
reciting Israelite history,
telling the Council what they did not want to hear.
Remember why the Council brought this intelligent man before them: 8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen. 10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke (Acts 6.8–10).
When you hear a new teaching,
You use the Scriptures to check up on the speaker.
You have to know where things are located.
You have to know the style of writing.
You have to know the point of that Bible Book.
You have to know the time period of that passage.
All this before you can really check up on someone.
That requires effort.
Paul wrote about his Jewish brethren and
Notice what he acknowledged about them, but
Perhaps they merely went by intuition, but
it got them in trouble.
The Bible exhorts us to work to know what we need to know.
The words of the wise poke you like a goad.
like driving a nail well, hitting that nail on the head.
Writing a book is not easy.
including studying the words of the wise in the Bible?
It wearied you because it takes more than intuition and feelings.
we had to take a logic class.
which at the time was a college textbook.
we only got about half way through the book.
applying logic to the Scriptures,
that showed the Bible cannot be true or
that you can only feel whether the Bible is true, but
what I have learned since,
Scripture agrees with logic or logic agrees with Scripture.
I attended a four-night debate in 1980 with brother Warren.
one of our congregations in Denton, Texas
One of the speakers there really impressed me.
His name is Ralph Gilmore.
You know the name Isaac Watts or
I’m Not Ashamed to Own My Lord
Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed?
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
Come, We That Love the Lord
Joy to the World
it heightened his spirituality,
Lord, give us more people like Isaac Watts,
who will use their minds
to teach us how to think and
to teach us how to express our deep religious convictions.

Exhortation :

“In addition, these findings do not say anything about the inherent value or truth of religious beliefs—they simply speak to the psychology of when and why we are prone to believe. Most importantly, they provide evidence that rather than being static, our beliefs can change drastically from situation to situation, without us knowing exactly why.”

Yet, what impression do they leave?
They will use science and psychology together against Christianity.
Notice how they present the two systems of thinking and
which wins in the minds of high school and college students?
Accepting what the Bible says is accepting credible testimony.
Be intelligent with your faith.

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Biblical Critical Thinking for Christians: Living the Truth

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The Bereans provide a wonderful example of biblical critical thinking—analyzing what they are exposed to and comparing it against the Scriptures (Acts 17:11).

As members of God’s Church, when we were called to live God’s way of life, we took the time to prove the true doctrines of the Church and disprove many traditional Christian doctrines that contain ideas not consistent with the Bible. Those of us who are second- or third-generation Christians also had to closely examine our beliefs before baptism and prove them for ourselves.

An important academic tool taught to students is critical thinking. This type of objective analysis is reflected in the biblical admonishment to “Test all things; hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

For those who are members of God’s Church, this tool is basically what we used when first confronted with God’s truth. We wanted to make sure we were embracing that truth, so we likely got books and computers out, studied the Bible, and by our research, we proved those things.

As we go through life and form our opinions and beliefs on issues in the world around us, do we use critical thinking?

We are exposed to all kinds of mainstream news, political agendas and theories from a variety of media sources. Newsletters and blogs are more popular than ever, and they can be convincing and seem right. Whenever we believe and embrace a stance on an issue of the day, do we honestly study both sides of the issue before believing it?

When we examine issues outside the Church and then do what seems right to us without proper biblically-based critical thinking, it can cause confusion, trouble and possibly lead us in the other direction from God. In our culture today, there is indeed a famine of truth! Notice Hosea 4:1-2. Ancient Israel, like many modern nations, allowed falsehoods and myths in their societies.

The originator of all deceptive teaching is Satan the Devil, and he holds sway over our world. If he can’t deceive us about God’s truth, one of his tricks is to get us to embrace falsehoods of the world. Without comparing what we hear to God’s Word and His ways, these falsehoods can cause us to have attitudes that are independent of God’s ways. This can result in us neglecting our calling to God’s Church, Sabbath services and causing division. This is the Devil’s snare mentioned in 2 Timothy 2:25-26.

In Matthew 24:4, Christ’s first end-time warning was for us to not be deceived. We can now see how serious that warning is!

Virtually all the letters of Paul, Peter, John and Jude urged brethren not to be led astray by false teachings of any kind (1 Timothy 1:3-4). In the last 20 years the Internet has been overflowing with theories and opinions of people on every extreme.

Take everything with a “grain of salt”—think critically about what you read so you can avoid deception.

Here are three ways God tells us in His Word how to avoid deception:

Love the truth (John 17:17)!

Notice how serious this is in 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12. The only real truth is God’s Word (John 17:17), and the truth makes us free (John 8:32). When you read or hear any opinion, examine it and think, “Is this compatible with God’s Word?”

Guard the door to your mind (Proverbs 14:15).

Just like a computer virus, we can ingest corrupting information that can lead us astray. Be informed without being corrupted.

Prove all things (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

Notice this is not just in the realm of religion—it covers all things. Christ taught that we must use righteous judgment—not according to appearances (John 7:24)! That means learning all sides to an issue.

Like trusting sheep, it can be easy for us to be lead astray. Don’t be infected with Satan’s distractions, deceits and the polarized society in which we live. It is crucial that we examine everything we read and hear against the Bible. The Bereans “received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11). They provide a wonderful example of biblical critical thinking—analyzing what they are exposed to and comparing it against the Scriptures.

We know much greater deception will come to this world before Christ returns to restore all things—including truth. As our Lord Jesus Christ taught: don’t be deceived, guard the door to your mind, love the truth and prove all things!

Evan J. Chase

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Logic for Christians: Critical Thinking for the People of God

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Logic for Christians: Critical Thinking for the People of God Paperback – April 20, 2021

How do you know that what you believe is true?

Is there absolute truth, and can you know it? Why do so many people disagree on so many important topics? How do you know when one argument is better than another? Why do so many people disagree about what the Bible says?

All these questions can be answered with one word: Logic.

This book will teach you how to think with a coherent and biblical worldview. It will show the importance of absolute truth and critical thinking for understanding the Bible and the culture around us. After reading it you will be able to make clear, sound arguments for why you believe what you believe, and you will also be able to critique the arguments of others.

Perhaps no skill is more needed in our current culture than the ability to think well and know truth. This book will give you the tools you need to better assess your own beliefs and the world around you.

Print length 190 pages
Language English
Publisher Lucid Books
Publication date April 20, 2021
Dimensions 5.5 x 0.4 x 8.5 inches
ISBN-10 1632964384
ISBN-13 978-1632964380
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About the author, product details.

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lucid Books (April 20, 2021)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 190 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1632964384
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1632964380
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.4 x 8.5 inches
#365 in Philosophy of Logic & Language
#727 in Religion & Philosophy (Books)
#34,958 in Christian Living (Books)

About the author

Zach Lee is an author, speaker, and philosopher. He is the author of the books: Logic for Christians (2021) and Courting Athena: A Short Introduction to Philosophy (2023). He and his wife, Katy, have two children. Zach enjoys reading, hanging out with friends, chasing his kids, and telling jokes that are clearly over the line.

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Top 15+ Critical Thinking Interview Questions with Sample Answers

Critical thinking skills are in demand across various roles and industries. Interviewers often ask questions to assess your problem-solving abilities and logical thinking. To impress potential employers, use examples that highlight your analytical decision-making process. In this article, we present Critical-thinking Interview Questions you might encounter.

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15+ Critical Thinking Interview Questions With Sample Answers

Employers seek individuals who can tackle complex challenges, identify problems with finesse, and chart intelligent courses of action. This prized skill set transcends industry boundaries, making it a universal currency in the job market. Understanding Critical Thinking Interview Questions and sample answers will help you unlock the doors to your future career.

Explore the top 15+ Critical Thinking Interview Questions and discover sample answers to ace your job interviews. Read more to improve your decision-making skills.

Table of Contents

1) Commonly asked Critical Thinking Interview Questions

a) Describe an instance where you persuaded your supervisor or team to consider an alternative approach in addressing a challenge.

b) How would you handle a situation where you noticed your supervisor made an error in a report or presentation?

c) Describe one of the most difficult decisions you have had to make at work.

d) How would you handle a situation where a colleague presented you with a new or unusual idea?

e) How would you solve a disagreement among team members on how to approach a project?

f) Have you ever anticipated potential problems and developed steps to avoid them?

g) How do you handle making a decision when you don't have all of the information?

h) When solving a problem or completing a task, how do you determine when you need help from others?

i) In a live presentation to key stakeholders, you notice a mistake in your manager's report, but your manager isn't present. How do you handle this?

j) Share an instance when you persuaded your manager to consider an alternative approach in addressing a challenge.

2) Conclusion

Commonly asked Critical Thinking Interview Questions

Discussed below are some of the commonly asked Critical Thinking Interview Questions.

Describe an instance where you persuaded your supervisor or team to consider an alternative approach in addressing a challenge.

“In my previous position, I frequently needed to access data from our company's database and compile it into a spreadsheet. Typically, this was done manually. However, I introduced a more efficient method by proposing the use of a specific software program and demonstrating the automated process. I outlined how this automated approach would not only save us time but also free up resources for more critical tasks.”

Creative And Analytical Thinking Training

How would you handle a situation where you noticed your supervisor made an error in a report or presentation?

"If I were to spot an error in my supervisor's work, I would choose to address it privately at a suitable time. During this discussion, I would point out the mistake and extend my assistance in rectifying it. I feel that maintaining the privacy of this conversation is a way to demonstrate my respect for my supervisor and their position."

Describe one of the most difficult decisions you have had to make at work.

Interviewers pose this question to assess your ability to make decisions in tough scenarios. Your response should demonstrate how you approached a challenging choice, showcasing your problem-solving skills and how you evaluated various options to arrive at the best solution.

How would you handle a situation where a colleague presented you with a new or unusual idea?

"I once worked with a colleague on a project, and they proposed a radically different approach from my usual method. I inquired about their approach, asking them to guide me through it and share their past success with it. The steps they recommended appeared simpler than my usual process, so we opted to adopt their method."

How would you solve a disagreement among team members on how to approach a project?

Enhancing your critical thinking skills involves assessing conflicting perspectives and leveraging them to craft effective solutions. Analysing diverse angles of a situation can expand your viewpoint and frequently result in improved solutions. Demonstrating your capability to make decisions that benefit your team is a valuable skill to exhibit to interviewers.

Have you ever anticipated potential problems and developed steps to avoid them?

“During my previous employment, I had the duty of arranging work shifts for the staff, and I recogni s ed that managing schedules became more intricate during the holiday season. To address this challenge, I introduced a system for requesting time off during this period, allowing me to plan schedules well in advance. Additionally, I implemented a training program to equip the staff with the skills needed to cover various roles, ensuring flexibility.”

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How do you handle making a decision when you don't have all of the information?

“I prefer having a wealth of inf ormation at my disposal when making decisions, although I acknowledge that this isn't always feasible . In such cases, I make an effort to gather as much relevant information as possible and use contextual clues to fill in any gaps.

Once, when I needed guidance on a client proposal and my supervisor was unavailable, I thoroughly examined the client's creative brief for insights. The brief offered sufficient information for me to discover a potential solution to my dilemma. When I presented my findings, I felt confident in my preparation and received only minor adjustments from the client.”

When solving a problem or completing a task, how do you determine when you need help from others?

“In the past, I've come to understand that certain situations call for assistance from others. I make this decision when I acknowledge that a task is too large for me to manage alone or when I require additional perspectives to address a particular issue effectively.

For instance, last year, I accepted the responsibility of creating a report for an internal client with a tight deadline. While working on the report, I reali s ed that I wouldn't be able to complete it within the given timeframe , so I reached out to a colleague .”

In a live presentation to key stakeholders, you notice a mistake in your manager's report, but your manager isn't present. How do you handle this?

“In such a situation, I would make a mental note of the mistake but not point it out immediately during the live presentation to avoid any embarrassment or disruption. Instead, I would bring it to my manager's attention after the presentation, explaining the issue and seeking guidance on the best way to rectify it.”

Share an instance when you persuaded your manager to consider an alternative approach in addressing a challenge.

“Once, our team faced a recurring issue with a project's timeline. I proposed a more agile approach, emphasi s ing flexibility. I presented data on its success elsewhere and highlighted the potential benefits. After a discussion, my manager agreed to give it a try , leading to improved project outcomes and a more adaptive work environment.”

While working on a project, if you find it hard to agree with your team on the next step, what steps would you take to ensure you pick the right direction and get your colleagues on board?

“In such a situation, I would first suggest holding a structured team meeting to discuss the differing opinions and perspectives. During this discussion, I'd encourage everyone to present their ideas and the reasoning behind them.

I'd emphasise the importance of examining evidence and logic to determine the best course of action. Ultimately, the team's consensus would guide our decision, ensuring that everyone is on board with the chosen direction, promoting unity and collaboration to achieve our project's objectives .”

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Should you raise prices for more money or lower prices to make customers happier—what's the better way to sell?

“The best sales approach depends on the specific context and goals. If a business can justify higher prices by offering superior value, increasing prices can lead to higher revenues. On the other hand, lowering prices can improve customer satisfaction and potentially increase sales volume.

A balanced approach might involve segmenting the market and offering different pricing strategies to cater to various customer segments. Ultimately, the key is to find the right balance between price and value to meet both revenue and customer satisfaction objectives .”

How do you evaluate the credibility of a source of information?

“I evaluate the credibility of a source by considering several factors. First, I assess the author's qualifications and expertise in the subject matter. Then, I examine the publication source, looking for reputable and trusted outlets.

I also check for citations and references to credible sources within the content. Additionally, I consider the publication date to ensure the information is current and relevant. Lastly, I look for any potential biases or conflicts of interest that may affect the source's reliability.”

Share an instance where you had to change how you talk to make sure people understood what you were saying.

“In a previous job, I had to present a complex technical project to a diverse audience, including non-technical stakeholders. To ensure clarity and engagement, I adapted my communication style by simplifying technical jargon, using visual aids, and real-life analogies. This approach made the presentation accessible to everyone, fostering better understanding and buy-in from all participants, even those with limited technical background.”

How do you prioritise tasks when faced with multiple urgent deadlines?

“When faced with a complex problem, I start by breaking it down into smaller, more manageable components. I research and gather relevant information to fully understand the issue and its context. Then, I brainstorm potential solutions and evaluate their pros and cons.

Next, I collaborate with colleagues to gain diverse perspectives and insights. Finally, I prioriti s e the most effective solution and create a well-structured plan to address the problem systematically.”

What steps do you take to analyse a complex problem?

Can you give an example of a time when you had to think on your feet during a crisis.

“I recall a situation during a critical project when our main supplier suddenly encountered production issues, jeopardising our timeline. In response, I quickly initiated contact with alternative suppliers, assessed their capabilities, and secured a backup source. This proactive approach ensured minimal disruption to our project and demonstrated my ability to adapt and make decisive decisions under pressure.”

“One notable instance was when our company faced a sudden network outage during a critical client presentation. Without panicking, I swiftly coordinated with the IT team, initiated a backup plan, and reassured the client by sharing the presentation on our mobile devices. This quick thinking ensured that the meeting continued smoothly, demonstrating our commitment to resolving issues under pressure and maintaining a strong client relationship.”

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IMAGES

Critical Thinking God’s Way
40 Bible Verses about Critical Thinking
What does the Bible say about critical thinking?
Critical Thinking Activity for Their Eyes Were Watching God
Learn about the meta narrative of what God wants in 60 seconds or less
Logic for Christians: Critical Thinking for the People of God

VIDEO

What I believe
Critical Thinking/God/Wisdom/ VS. Hate/Ignorance/Aggression Against the Innocent/Evil
"Thinking God aright" from James 1:16-18
Thinking God's Thoughts of Jesus
Peter Enns
My 3 Goals For This Channel

COMMENTS

Critical Thinking: The Secret Weapon of Confident Christians
Critical thinking is a systematic skill that involves analyzing and assessing a particular belief, idea, argument, or issue in an unbiased manner. After thoroughly examining the subject matter, the individual arrives at a conclusion that makes the most sense of and aligns with reality. In Christianity, possessing a biblical worldview means ...
How Critical Thinkers Lose Their Faith in God
How Critical Thinkers Lose Their Faith in God Religious belief drops when analytical thinking rises By Daisy Grewal
What does the Bible say about critical thinking?
Critical thinking encompasses these qualities by involving the careful analysis of facts to draw well-considered, objective conclusions. A critical thinker is skeptical when he or she approaches new information but intends to discover the truth. In 1 Thessalonians 5:21, God commands us to "test everything, hold fast to what is good.".
A Biblical Foundation for Critical Thinking
God's Word is sharper than a sword. And, it should also be the foundation from which we start our thinking!"Does not the ear test words, as the palate tastes its food?" (Job 12:11)Ideological InstabilityThere are countless people in our world that will embrace almost anything without questioning it as long as the presenter seems believable or they have a vested interest in accepting it ...
Jesus: The Master of Critical Thinking
Spending time with Jesus, the Thinker, and studying his use of critical thinking, logic and powerful arguments can be instrumental in fulfilling our calling as Christians to engage our world with Truth.
The 7 Checks of Critical Thinking
So, what are those "7 Checks of Critical Thinking" for breaking down any message? Let's take a look. 1. Check Scripture. God 's Word is our authority for truth, because God is the only One who has always been there, who knows everything, who cannot lie, and who reveals the big picture of reality through the Bible.
Why Critical Thinking is Important for Christians (And How ...
As we introduce critical thinking into our local church communities, let's do so while ensuring we have a "God's eye view" of people. Theology is important and informs our beliefs. But God is concerned with people coming to know and trust him, above all. As with most things, we should strive for balance.
How to Be a Logical and Rational Christian: A Guide for ...
As a Christian, it's essential to understand the role of logic and reasoning in your spiritual journey. While faith plays a significant role, incorporating critical thinking skills can help you make better decisions and navigate complex issues in your life. This guide will provide practical advice and tips on how to be a logical and rational Christian.
Christians and the Need for Critical Thinking
Christians and the Need for Critical Thinking. "Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the ...
What Does the Bible Say About Critical Thinking?
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved ...
Critical Thinking and Christianity
Even the Bible, which promotes faith, also promotes critical thinking. The greatest command of all is to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength" (Luke 10:27). The centre of Christianity is, in part, loving God with your mind. There is a thinking aspect to faith. We are not given the capacity to reason and ...
Jesus' Questions in the Gospel of Matthew: Promoting Critical Thinking
The results show that Jesus' questions in the Gospel of Matthew consistently accomplish the criteria of high-level thinking questions because Jesus often uses questions at the level of analysis (79%) and comprehension (77%), and these questions effectively promote the audience's critical thinking skills.
Critical Thinking
Right thinking imitates God's thinking; and because God does not contradict himself (his Word cannot be broken — John 10:35; he cannot lie — Hebrews 6:18), Christians should seek to avoid contradiction.
Library : Critical Thinking for Christians
The second reason critical thinking is God's gift is because grace perfects nature, and this is an essential part of human nature, the ability and the desire to think logically as a means to ...
How Can I Resist a Critical Spirit?
A love for excellence can easily grow into a hypercritical spirit. How can we resist the tendency to focus mostly on the failures of others?
The Bible Does Everything Critical Theory Does, but Better
In Biblical Critical Theory: How the Bible's Unfolding Story Makes Sense of Modern Life and Culture, he shows how God's Word furnishes the tools for a better, more compelling critical theory ...
(PDF) "Thinking Critically, Reading Faithfully: Critical Biblical
Lastly, biblical critics continue to champion the serious academic study of the biblical text in 17Kal Alston, "Re/Thinking Critical Thinking: The seduction o f everyday life," Studies in Philosophy and Education 20, no. 1 ( 2038 ‫ا ( ﻟﻪ‬. fWilliam R. Osborne: Thinking Critically, Reading Faithftrlly.. 89 the original languages.
Faith, Reason, and Critical Thinking
Faith, Reason, and Critical Thinking. It is not unusual to hear discussions of the relationship between faith and reason, or science and religion, cast in terms of the blind acceptance of unquestionable propositions (religion) versus careful, skeptical, and critical rational reflection (science). Indeed, one of the hallmarks of religious faith ...
How Critical Thinkers Lose Their Faith in God
Solving logical and analytic problems may require that we override our system 1 thinking processes to engage system 2. Psychologists have developed a number of clever techniques that spur us to do ...
Sermon: Critical Thinking and Faith in God
09_23_2018_criticalthinkingandfaithingod_donruhl Critical Thinking and Faith in God Does critical thinking lead to the abandonment of faith? Hebrews 11.1-3 Don Ruhl • Sa…
Biblical Critical Thinking for Christians
An important academic tool taught to students is critical thinking. This type of objective analysis is reflected in the biblical admonishment to "Test all things; hold fast what is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21). For those who are members of God's Church, this tool is basically what we used when first confronted with God's truth.
Logic for Christians: Critical Thinking for the People of God
Why do so many people disagree about what the Bible says? All these questions can be answered with one word: Logic. This book will teach you how to think with a coherent and biblical worldview. It will show the importance of absolute truth and critical thinking for understanding the Bible and the culture around us.
Study: Critical Thinkers Less Likely to Believe in God
Published Thursday in the journal Science, the report found that people were more likely to express weaker faith in God after answering math questions that required analytic thinking.
Top 15+ Critical Thinking Interview Questions with Sample Answers
This prized skill set transcends industry boundaries, making it a universal currency in the job market. Understanding Critical Thinking Interview Questions and sample answers will help you unlock the doors to your future career. Explore the top 15+ Critical Thinking Interview Questions and discover sample answers to ace your job interviews.