Articles
An Information Glut
I realize that every generation thinks its circumstances are unique which often leads to a “the sky is falling” outlook. Sin and temptation certainly aren’t unique; human nature is the same in all ages; stress between orthodoxy and progressiveness is always present. But one feature of our world not experienced before, at least degree, is the amount of information available. Obviously, the current generation is the recipient of all the accumulated knowledge that has come to light thus far. But beyond that fact, we have the technology to both broadcast it and access it at will. That is the unprecedented part. Global events become instantaneous news. Articles, scholarly papers, research results, statistics on everything from sports to social issues abound. And this is good. Mostly.
One thing that is lacking in all this deluge of information is a filter. How can all this information be accurately evaluated so as to eliminate the inaccurate, speculative and downright fraudulent? Snopes is a start, but not everything encountered in the course of a day can be so easily researched. What are some things that might help us sort through the mountains of data that constantly stream into our minds?
1. Be cautious. While not endorsing overt skepticism, we do need to develop a careful, evaluative outlook. Publishing lends credence to the printed word, a television documentary or a university study. But we need to be more discriminating. Who published the study? What are the author’s connections to his story? Who funded the research? No one is above personal bias, and it shapes much information in the public arena.
2. Don’t overgeneralize. Just because something is true in one state/city/ethnic subgroup, etc. doesn’t mean it is the norm everywhere. Example: A commercial may say: “In the U.S. a car is broken into every 3 seconds. Protect yourself with …”. You then think: “Wow, in Centreville a car is broken into every 3 seconds.” That’s not the way statistics work. Certain parts of the nation are rife with car thefts which skew the national average. The same is true of abortion rates, drug sales, gang warfare, etc.
3. Research thoroughly. Consider other sources. Poll numbers vary widely based on a variety of factors. Experts disagree in fields where information seems more fact-based than intuitive. For example, astronomy is an extremely speculative field of science. Articles are often sprinkled with indefinite words such as “believe,” “it seems,” “likely,” “possibly,” etc.
Applying these principles to information that undermines godly morals and other Biblical truth is vital. We occasionally hear things like: Living together before marriage is beneficial. Artifacts contradict Scripture. Jesus was either a homosexual or married to Mary Magdalene. The star seen by the magi was an extraterrestrial spaceship. The starting place of our worldview must be divine truth, for that is the only information that deserves our unreserved trust. True, the Bible doesn’t address every contemporary question, but it is the basis of a mindset that allows us to filter out and discard much academic babble. “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 Jn 4:1). By what standard should traverse such a rocky path? “Your word is a lamp to my feet” (Ps 119:105).
