Lessons in Critical Thinking (8 of 12)

Always ask, “Is that true?”

We live in a culture which has a tendency to believe whatever we see on television, hear on the radio, read in the newspaper, or read in books. We also have a tendency, because of our sinful human nature, to want to hear and believe the worst. A good example is our present day media. How often do we hear stories about someone doing the right thing instead of the wrong thing? Or about someone doing good instead of evil? Yes, we do hear these stories, from time to time, but they are few and far between. Instead, what do we hear? We hear stories of killing, stealing, rape, coveting, idolatry and so on. And we tend to thrive on such news.

Pay attention to yourself. The next time you stop to listen to some bit of news (either through the television, radio or newspaper) stop yourself and ask, “What is it about this that is of interest to me?” I would suggest, even if we do not want to admit it, it is the fact that we are interested in just how deviant people may be. Yes, we want to hear the worst. Well, after all, it is refreshing to realize that there are others with worse problems than we have.

But what does this have to do with critical thinking? Have you ever stopped and asked, “Is it true?” Is what I am reading about or what I am hearing about true? Or perhaps parts are true and parts are conjecture? Listen to what is said to be true and what is said to be conjecture, if such is admitted.

Have you ever heard of the show, what used to be a section in the comics page, called, Ripley’s Believe it or Not? Have you ever noticed that they do not say if what is presented is true or not, simply that you are to “believe it,” or “not believe it.” We would do well when watching television, listening to the radio, or reading the newspaper, magazines, and books, to read with a discerning eye, to read and question, “Is the author presenting this as a fact or an opinion?” “If the author is presenting this as a fact, what is the proof?” “If the author is presenting this as an opinion, is the opinion founded on facts or not and again, what is the proof?”