How to beware of confirmation bias when discussing theology.

[Rookie]

In theology, we humans have a tendency (and I believe we all can agree), to look for information and theological principles and interpret them through the lenses of our preconceived notions.

Just to mention a few examples, some of which I've either been in or still struggle with:

- Hardcore gamers will break their backs to try to defend their gaming habits, even biblically. Are those who watch sinful shows, rated r movies, or simply televise programs that promote ungodly principles will try to justify that too.

- Professing Christians who are infatuated or dating a non-believer will try to find a way to justify that.

- Homosexuals, LGBT people, and LGBT affirming people will (and have) bend over backwards to biblically justify Homosexuality.

- Those who are stingy with their money will find a way to make excuses to not tithe.

Basically, we look to the Bible hoping that we can justify our desires through it. And I know I've tried to do that heavily particularly during my pre-Christ era (with m^st^rb^tion, p*rn, gaming, TV, etc).

The more dangerous part is that some of these are crystal clear, no matter how much anyone tries to twist it (like homosexuality, generosity, and being equally yoked). But others aren't as crystal clear (such as TV, games, fun time, recreation, etc). And maybe it's "not clear" cuz I like it.

Basically how can we discern things biblically while struggling with our rebellious flesh that wants to have what it wants. How can we avoid confirmation bias?

 

[Hidden In Him]

In theology, we humans have a tendency (and I believe we all can agree), to look for information and theological principles and interpret them through the lenses of our preconceived notions.

Just to mention a few examples, some of which I've either been in or still struggle with:

- Hardcore gamers will break their backs to try to defend their gaming habits, even biblically. Are those who watch sinful shows, rated r movies, or simply televise programs that promote ungodly principles will try to justify that too.

- Professing Christians who are infatuated or dating a non-believer will try to find a way to justify that.

- Homosexuals, LGBT people, and LGBT affirming people will (and have) bend over backwards to biblically justify Homosexuality.

- Those who are stingy with their money will find a way to make excuses to not tithe.

Basically, we look to the Bible hoping that we can justify our desires through it. And I know I've tried to do that heavily particularly during my pre-Christ era (with m^st^rb^tion, p*rn, gaming, TV, etc).

The more dangerous part is that some of these are crystal clear, no matter how much anyone tries to twist it (like homosexuality, generosity, and being equally yoked). But others aren't as crystal clear (such as TV, games, fun time, recreation, etc). And maybe it's "not clear" cuz I like it.

Basically how can we discern things biblically while struggling with our rebellious flesh that wants to have what it wants. How can we avoid confirmation bias?

Another interesting thread.

My first response would be this: As a Christian develops in Christ, their interest in things (any things/ all things) drifts ever-increasingly into spiritual pursuits; study, ministry, prayer, worship, etc. This makes decisions regarding other pursuits less of an issue, and sometimes irrelevant. But that's not to downplay that more worldly/ earthly pursuits like gaming and entertainments can still be a big draw on our time, or even sexual practices we would rather not be giving ourselves to (for obvious reasons). But the scriptural answer was to walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the lusts of the flesh, or in other words, replace one lifestyle with another.

But in the meantime (i.e. when it comes to discerning what is truly of God, what is permissible, and what is blatant sin), I think it takes a heart that loves God and is humble enough to receive correction. It starts with being willing to admit that something we enjoy is not right, or that spending so much time on it at the expense of God is not right. If we are open to receiving correction, then it becomes just a matter of seeking to perfect holiness in the fear of God. Granted, that's still a tough fight in this day and age of modern conveniences and luxury, but I think society's problem is that they don't want to be told what is right and what is wrong. Scripture refers to this as wanting to shepherd ourselves. You are free to do whatever you want, but you also place yourself in danger of predators (and the kingdom of darkness is filled with them, both spiritual and human).

In response to your title specifically, this affects theology as well. It especially affects people who (again because of a lack of humidity) have adopted certain mindsets and doctrinal beliefs, and it becomes a matter of pride because they don't want anyone to prove them wrong.

Humility is always at the heart of things, one way or another.

 

[Alfred Persson]

In theology, we humans have a tendency (and I believe we all can agree), to look for information and theological principles and interpret them through the lenses of our preconceived notions.

Just to mention a few examples, some of which I've either been in or still struggle with:

- Hardcore gamers will break their backs to try to defend their gaming habits, even biblically. Are those who watch sinful shows, rated r movies, or simply televise programs that promote ungodly principles will try to justify that too.

- Professing Christians who are infatuated or dating a non-believer will try to find a way to justify that.

- Homosexuals, LGBT people, and LGBT affirming people will (and have) bend over backwards to biblically justify Homosexuality.

- Those who are stingy with their money will find a way to make excuses to not tithe.

Basically, we look to the Bible hoping that we can justify our desires through it. And I know I've tried to do that heavily particularly during my pre-Christ era (with m^st^rb^tion, p*rn, gaming, TV, etc).

The more dangerous part is that some of these are crystal clear, no matter how much anyone tries to twist it (like homosexuality, generosity, and being equally yoked). But others aren't as crystal clear (such as TV, games, fun time, recreation, etc). And maybe it's "not clear" cuz I like it.

Basically how can we discern things biblically while struggling with our rebellious flesh that wants to have what it wants. How can we avoid confirmation bias?

I wish it were easy, but we are hard wired to have confirmation bias. Confirmation Bias allows us to react when we don't understand what is happening.

When a lion suddenly appears, even if we didn't know what it was, confirmation bias would cause us to flee immediately, instead of stupidly looking at it, until we are eaten.

When I study doctrine I seek scholarly discussion, try to see the facts each cite as they would see them.

I look for examples where relevant facts are generalized. That is like changing the shapes of puzzle pieces to make them fit when otherwise they can't.

But that takes discipline, its hard work.

Our brains are "lazy", hard wired to use the least amount of energy possible, to "jump to conclusions". It takes effort to learn how "opposers" see the same facts.

Scott Adams' book "Win Bigly: Persuasion in a World Where Facts Don't Matter" has a chapter on confirmation bias:

The world can be a confusing place if you don’t know what confirmation bias is and how often it occurs in our daily lives. Confirmation bias is the human reflex to interpret any new information as being supportive of the opinions we already hold. And it doesn’t matter how poorly the new information fits our existing views. We will twist our minds into pretzels to make the new information feel as if it is consistent with what we “know” to be true. For example, as I write this chapter, news services are reporting a variety of stories about alleged collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign staff, but we have seen no actual evidence of it. On top of the collusion allegations are stories about alleged Russian “influence” on the election that doesn’t involve any collusion; those stories appear to have more substance. But the interesting thing is that the anti-Trumpers and the Trump supporters are seeing different realities based on the same set of reported facts.

Adams, Scott. Win Bigly: Persuasion in a World Where Facts Don't Matter (p. 60). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

A great example of confirmation Bias about Trump was how my brother and I could watch the same speech by Trump, and he would hate Trump even more, while the same speech made me like him more!

The Big Beautiful Bill is the latest example, either it will supercharge the economy or crash it, depending on how one views Trump.

But Critical thinkers will stick to facts. History (Calvin Coolidge, John F. Kenndy, Ronald Reagan) proved deregulation and tax cuts supercharge the economy, socialism which does the opposite via central planning has impoverished every society that implemented it (China, Russia, N Korea, Cuba). PS: Sweden and Denmark etc are capitalist countries, not socialist.