CRITICAL THINKING & CHRISTIAN FAITH
Within our world today, logic and reason is firmly established as the prevalent philosophy of evaluating our physical existence, and for good cause; we live in a logical and reasonable world that for the most part, can be explained in rational and quantitative terms, which cannot be refuted. However, those who espouse this point of view seem to have nothing but distain for the adherents of religious faith in general, and especially the Christian faith, which dares to challenge their preeminence. On the other hand, some Christians seem all too eager to ‘throw the baby out with the bath water’ concerning the need for critically evaluating of the world around us, and retreat to the comfort of ignorance, to their own detriment. But an honest evaluation of the concept of “Critical Thinking”, which is the ideology that supports the establishment of logic and reason, reveals that the two are not incompatible with each other. Christian faith is logical and reasonable in all of its doctrines and applications, especially when one approaches it with the same open-minded analysis expressed by critical thinking advocates.
It is believed that the impetus of what we now call, “critical thinking” may have started as early as the days Socrates and, “…has been developing throughout the past 2500 years.” However, “The term "critical thinking" has its roots in the mid-late 20th century” (Scriven, and Paul). Down through the centuries, many great minds have contributed to the foundational principles that support the various theories and methodologies of the critical thinking ideology, but critical thinking in its simplest form can be defined as, “The objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgment” (Critical Thinking) Within the intellectual establishment, there are few, if any, disciplines that are not subject to at least some form of its analysis methods.
To fully understand this approach to reasoning, it is helpful to consider the history behind the formation of critical thinking which began in earnest during the Enlightenment period. Modern philosophers such as, Descartes, Locke, and Hume began, “…with the notion that we have a duty to carefully decide whether to accept or reject our beliefs, and a duty to base those decisions upon good evidence” (Klein). This critical way of thinking served to propel the scientific, philosophic, industrial, and academic communities in directions that they had never before imagined, and the reasons for this can be explained by the following statement:
“Much of our thinking, left to itself, is biased, distorted, partial, uninformed or down-right prejudiced. Yet the quality of our life and that of what we produce, make, or build depends precisely on the quality of our thought. Shoddy thinking is costly, both in money and in quality of life. Excellence in thought, however, must be systematically cultivated. A well cultivated critical thinker: raises vital questions and problems, formulating them clearly and precisely… Critical thinking is, in short, self-directed, self-disciplined, self-monitored, and self-corrective thinking” (Paul, and Elder).
There can be no doubt that this enlightened period of human history produced the greatest industrial and intellectual revolution that the world has ever seen, along with the seeds of what we now call critical thinking. Even the military has learned to harness critical thinking, recognizing that, “…the military strategist Carl von Clausewitz also promoted the value of critical thinking for strategic leaders in his writings…” (Howard, and Paret) Utilizing critical thinking skills, the possibilities for increased efficiency, production, and accomplishment in multiple fields of endeavor are potentially limitless. But just knowing about these parameters will in no way benefit the individual or collaborative group unless they are able to harness the critical thinking skills needed to unlock these potentials. You must learn the logic of critical thinking, as expressed by Craig Rusbult who said, “The essence of critical thinking is logic, and logical evaluation… is the essence of Scientific Method and Design Method. On the other end of the logic spectrum, we see a variety of logical fallacies that include circular reasoning and strawman arguments” (Rusbult). The keys to understanding this ability to think critically, “… involves three things: 1) an attitude of being disposed to consider in a thoughtful way the problems … 2) knowledge of the methods of logical inquiry and reasoning, and 3) some skill in applying those methods.” (Glaser) Since we know that critical thinking is essentially, “…the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information …” (Scriven, and Paul).
One cannot underestimate the importance of attitude and disposition in thoughtfully considering other options, when it comes to the critical thinking process. As one observer noted, “When grounded in selfish motives, it is often manifested in the skillful manipulation of ideas in service of one’s own, or one's groups’, vested interest. As such it is typically intellectually flawed, however pragmatically successful it might be. When grounded in fair-mindedness and intellectual integrity, it is typically of a higher order intellectually...” (Scriven, and Paul). One of the leading experts in the field of modern critical thinking theory, Dr. Linda Elder, has suggested that, “People who think critically consistently attempt to live rationally, reasonably, empathically… They embody the Socratic principle: ‘The unexamined life is not worth living…’ ” (Elder, and Paul). Studies done at the University of Hong Kong have found that, “Critical thinking is not a matter of accumulating information. A person with a good memory and who knows a lot of facts is not necessarily good at critical thinking. A critical thinker is able to deduce consequences from what he knows…” (Lau, and Chan)
However, there are many who promote the advances of critical thinking to the severe detriment of Christian faith and values. For example, the outspoken atheist, Bill Maher, says that faith is, “The purposeful suspension of critical thinking” (Swarts). Articles about faith and reason are constantly being written to prove that, “Critical Thinkers Lose Their Faith in God & Religious belief drops when analytical thinking rises” (Grewal). More than ever before, the Christian faith has lost its voice and its place at the table of ideas, due almost entirely to the prominence of the critical thinking model of reasoning, and the popular cries of, “…faith solutions should have no countenance in a secular university.” And, “When it comes to politics or morality the same standard applies” (Loftus) can be heard loudly in the city square.
The real irony and hypocrisy here is, that the people who are making these claims, the blind disciples of logic, reason, rationalism, and critical thinking, do not apply the same principles of interpretation to the Christian faith that they forcefully impose on the rest of us. While claiming that the Bible is no different than any other work of literature, they impose an overwhelming array of higher criticism techniques to the text, questioning every aspect of its authenticity, historicity, and accuracy, unlike any other book that has ever been written. They flatly reject the claims of the Christian faith based solely on their own preconceived biases and mere personal opinions, which emanate entirely from the same selfish desires for sexual immorality and a quest for authoritative autonomy, that has existed in the heart of man since dawn of human existence.
While they scoff at the notion that a deluge of judgement once destroyed the earth, they unwittingly study the fossils of billions of animals that were buried in flood sediments. Ridiculing to scorn the possibility of biological life arising from an intelligent designer, they spend decades attempting to decode the DNA molecule, a fantastically complex computer language that makes all life possible. Viciously denouncing the biblical account of creation at the hand of an omniscient being, with a vastly superior intellect than our own; they postulate a time long, long ago, in a galaxy far, far, away, in which there was once absolutely nothing, and then all of the sudden it exploded, and created everything. You know… true science.
Perhaps, what is the most amazing, but tragically destructive, is that for all of the damage that critical thinking, rationalism, liberal theology, and secular humanism has done to God’s word, the Church, and the Christian faith in general, our Christian colleges, seminaries, and yes, even Bible Institutes, are now fully embracing them and teaching these principles to their first year Bible students. Critical thinking practices are not inherently evil, nor are the skills that unlock its potential, when properly applied, but there can be no doubt as to the destructive tendencies that exist when it is wielded in the hands of liberal theologians and opinionated scientists, who do not honor the word of God as inerrant and authoritative. Jesus said, “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” (Mat 10:16) and Paul exhorts us to, “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise…” (Eph 5:15) So, Christian disciples of the 21st century must be even more diligent critical thinkers than all of their peers, in order to discern the truth amidst the web of deceptions constructed under the guise of critical thinking, logic, and reason.
Works Cited
Scriven, Michael, and Paul Richard. “Critical Thinking as Defined by the National Council for Excellence in Critical Thinking”, 1987. Web. August 20, 2015.
“Critical Thinking.” Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Oxford University Press, 2015. Web. Paul, Richard, and Linda Elder. “The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking Concepts and Tools.” Foundation for Critical Thinking Press, 2008. Web. August 20, 2015.
Klien, P. Critical Thinking on the Web. Web. 2000.
Howard, Michael, and Peter Paret. Carl Von Clausewitz On War. Princeton Press. 1976. Print.
Cohen, Marvin. “A Three-Part Theory of Critical Thinking: Dialogue, Mental Models, and Reliability.” Cognitive Technologies, Inc., 2000. Web. August 20, 2015
Rusbult, Craig. “Creative Thinking in Education and Life.” Asa3.org, 2001. Web. August 20, 2015
Glaser, Edward. An Experiment in the Development of Critical Thinking. Teacher’s College, Columbia University, 1941. Print.
Elder, Linda, and Richard Paul. The Miniature Guide to the Human Mind. 3rd Ed. Dillon Beach, CA: Foundation for Critical Thinking, 2007. Print.
Lau, Joe, and Jonathan Chan. “Critical Thinking Web.” Philosophy Department, School of Humanities, Faculty of Arts, University of Hong Kong, 2014-15. Web. August 20, 2015.
Tilus, Grant. “6 Critical Thinking Skills You Need to Master Now.” Rasmussen College, 2012. Web.
Swarts, Phillip. “Bill Maher: Christian Faith is the ‘Purposeful Suspension of Critical Thinking.” The Washington Times, 7 Jun. 2014. Web. August 20, 2015.
Grewal, Daisy. “How Critical Thinkers Loose Their Faith.” Scientific American, May 1, 2012. Web.
Loftus, John. Debunking Christianity. Web. 08/24/2015.
NKJV New King James Version. Holy Bible. Thomas Nelson. Nashville, TN: 2000. Print.
