Credentials Pt.2
Continuing on my post from last week by the same title, I read an article on MSN today that sheds light into the topic of credibility. A 22 year-old university student from Dublin, Shane Fitzgerald, decided to try his own sociology experiment on Wikipedia. He made up a quote and put it on the page of a recently deceased composer named Maurice Jarre as having been said by the deceased person. His plan was to see whether the inaccurate quote would be caught and deleted, or whether it would spread as truth. His conclusion? “Wikipedia passed. Journalism flunked.”
You can read the full article here. Basically, Wikipedia caught and deleted the quote shortly after it was put on the site, but not before numerous blogs and newspaper sites cited the quote along with their article on the composer. Very few were willing to admit their mistake even after he brought it to their attention.
He showed that many “credible” news agencies simple copied and pasted off of a Wikipedia article for their story without researching for themselves. As Fitzgerald poignantly stated, “It would have become another example where, once anything is printed enough times in the media without challenge, it becomes fact.” We have bought into a culture where it takes too much time and effort to think for ourselves, so we rely on others to do it for us.
Especially in Christianity, I’m amazed how easily the “herd mentality” takes over and people want you to think for them. What books are “safe” for me to read? What music can I enjoy? Which people should I listen to? Whatever happened to using our God-given minds and having a little ownership? As 1 Thessalonians 5:21 states, “Test everything. Hold on to the good.” Most of us don’t know what we believe and so we are incapable of testing new ideas. I for one have no desire to join the herd and allow others to process information and spoon feed me. I commit to reading, studying, praying, and always opening my mind to new ideas and to understanding truth better than I did before. Anyone with me?
This is the personal blog of Jeremy Jernigan. Husband, father, teaching pastor, and student of truth.
Do you think the herd mentality in Christianity has been fostered by the weekend service, wherein you show up, get some music, get some preaching, then get in your car and go home?
It seems to me as though, in a sense, Christianity has been made too easy. Therefore in many people’s minds, it is not worth committing the time required to “test everything”.
Matt – while I think the weekend service format can contribute to the herd mentality, I certainly don’t think it’s fair to place the blame on it. All throughout history people have gathered together to hear someone speak and to learn in community. Obviously Jesus did it, yet not everyone bought into what he was saying. John 6:60-70 comes to mind.
People will often choose the path of least resistance. I’ve seen people use a worship service, a book, a website, or a friend who tells them what to think. The issue isn’t with the source of information, as all four of the things I just mentioned can aid a person’s growth without depending on the herd mentality. The issue is how we respond to information and what we are content with. A believer shouldn’t be content to view their faith as a weekend service alone or what they heard one other person say. We always encourage this type of testing even in our weekend services.
I agree with you that overall Christianity has become far to easy. Again, I think we naturally gravitate toward the path of least resistance unless we strategically decide otherwise.
Hi Jeremy! Michael Crichton did an experiment years ago at Harvard when he felt his English professor was unfairly marking him down on papers. He plagarized a story by George Orwell and submitted it as his work. He received a B- for the paper and decided right then and there to change his major from English to anthropology…then he went on to become the great techno-thriller writer, producer, etc.
Thing is, this kind of experiment could be done over and over, in whatever venue or world of activity you choose, with probably the same results. No amount of study can protect you against getting duped by a lie or plagarism.
Being in the business world it comes down in my opinion to one huge ingredient that has to be present in all communication, business transactions, web publishing, etc. and that is HONESTY. Unfortunately in today’s schools, businesses, economy, family relationships, churches, there is a heavy dose of hidden agendas and truth spinning going on. Again, love to remind myself of a truth that we absolutely know to be the TRUTH when Jesus said often, “I tell you the truth…”
I was on Wik for 2 weeks as a professional triathlete and motivational speaker. Beat that.