Much has been written and
said about the negative effects of social media on our opinions and attitudes. As
many have pointed out, these communication means can act as a kind of echo
chamber in which we find our own views (and often our preconceptions and prejudices)
reinforced and amplified until we can become convinced that we must be
right and that everyone agrees or, if they don’t, then they are wrong as we
think we – and those who share our views – are correct.
And then when opinion either
collides with facts or is combined with facts, we can find so-called ‘fake news’
going viral or ‘real news’ being condemned as ‘fake news’.
To those of us (and I am
one!) who values – perhaps over-values – ‘objective truth’ this is a disturbing
and confusing world.
I was struck by something
said to me the other day by a relative when we were discussing political and
social views and the different perspectives people had on certain issues. He
said that when he found himself instinctively espousing a strong opinion on
matters political or social he deliberately set out to inwardly challenge his
own views. He would seek out comment and opinion in newspapers which tended to
hold a position very different from his own so he could check and test his
views and opinions.
I doubt that many of us
approach things with this kind of rigour! I wonder if it is ultimately effective
in countering the ‘echo chamber’ effect. Is it? One would hope so!
But living in the ‘echo
chamber’ is not only a problem in social media or with political or social
positions. It is a problem in the church. We join groups, form factions, align
ourselves with theological ‘tribes’ and read books where too often our views
(and prejudices) are bolstered and reinforced rather than challenged. This is
no less ‘life in the echo chamber’!
And those who put their heads
above the parapet to question some cherished view, belief or attitude of the
tribe can end up being fiercely attacked.
In the public sphere this has
been seen more on one ‘wing’ of the church (see, for example, reactions to Tony
Campolo or Steve Chalke or Vicky Beeching or Bishop Paul Bayes etc). However,
the disapproval of one of our ‘tribe’ who questions the received views or
orthodoxies of our group is not confined to one wing.
While in recent years I have
had conversations in private with a number of self-identified evangelicals who have
serious doubts regarding the predominant conservative views on (for example) the
atonement or sexuality, I have also had conversations with many who would certainly not identify as ‘conservative’ but find themselves facing criticism or
confusion when, in spite of their more ‘progressive’ views on certain matters
they affirm orthodox, biblical and creedal Christianity with regards to
those matters that are generally regarded as most central to historic Christian
belief. In some cases they find that their 'liberal' or 'progressive' friends mock their orthodoxy!
We really need to provide,
seek out, even demand conversations (not ‘debates’ in assemblies or
synods!) that allow us to openly and
safely explore our various views and shades of opinion. We need to speak to and
share with one another gently, humbly, and with provisionality and openness.
We need to get out of our
echo chambers.
