Philosophical Musings

Philosophical Musings

Thursday, December 12, 2019

Correction Compulsion

I have observed a phenomenon i call "correction compulsion', that seems very prevalent in religious circles.  I say 'religious', because it is not unique to Christianity,  but is common in other religious beliefs,  including atheism.

This phenomenon expresses itself by 'correcting' somebody who makes a statement,  observation,  or presents an opinion, that does not cover all possibilities, nor exceptions in a completely balanced way. 

Here are some flaws i see in this practice:

1. It is judgemental. Just because someone makes a single point does not mean they are excluding an exception or balanced perspective.  The correction implies the 'corrected' is bigoted, superficial, or ignorant.
2. It is arrogant.  The corrector is presuming the full intent or agenda of the corrected, based only on a single comment or point.
3. It is divisive. It presents the discussion,  whatever it is, in a challenging,  polemical way, and implies accusations, not respect.
4. It becomes a knee jerk response, looking for controversy, rather than listening to what others actually say.
5. It is based on dogmatic certainty of omnipotence.. believing that the corrector's opinion is the Final Say, when there is often differences of perception and opinion.

I see this practice as being very widespread in 'Christian' circles. It is sometimes masked in a pretense of 'Defending the Faith!', or a pretense of some ominous attack on Truth or Orthodoxy. But the devil is not behind every tree.

I also illustrate this theme with a hypocritical article, 'correcting!' a practice i see as an imbalance.  The ironies of this life are delicious..  :D

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