We live in a big world, still just as full of mysteries as it ever was. The mysteries have changed and the questions further down that infinite line we call knowledge. Yet the questions are always there that don’t have answers. Enter in the world of faith, science, religions, spirituality, empiricism, subjectivism and logic.
I bring this up because it relates to peoples world views. On this board we have atheists, believers in God, spiritual people of various stripes and agnostics; all of which have different world views. However one fact seems to be true, that when it comes to how we approach others there are the dogmatists, who inhabit each and every one of the aforementioned categories. I remember when I first began to realise the JWs world view was floored and wrong. It was devastation to me and my entire world view. It felt like being lost with no lights on to show the way. All world views are a bit like this when proved wrong, but as with cults, some can be more traumatic than others when crumbling away under our feet. So why the dogmatic attitude of some from any world view? I’m not talking about dogmatic in the sense of arguing for demonstrable facts in a debate, but the dogmatic attitude that would ripe a person’s world view foundation away without regard for where they land or the damage that could be done. It may be true that certain world views are wrong and damaging, but fighting fire with fire when the facts are on our side more than theirs, could burn some down without recovery.
What about a realising that any world view can be wrong? Science for instance is not a world view but scientism or materialism (logical empiricism) is. Evolution is not a world view but Social Darwinism is. In fact, probably all world views, because they attempt to apply to so much, end up being wrong. One thing being a JW taught me in coming out of it, was that holding truth provisionally is much wiser and allows kindness in dealing with others still trapped by it. Dogmatism is what they did so why should I be the same? In many ways it was dogmatism, not what they believed that was the evil. If they had allowed people to disagree, with some equity, then it would have not been a cult. So why is dogmatism applied so often to those who still hold views we now disagree with? I suggest that fighting fire with fire is not a good idea, but fighting fire with the lessons we should have leant because of being wrong at least once in our lives is better. Kindness and empathy would be better and more consistent with this I feel. No need to rip a foundation away instantly or without pause. Anger at the WT is also a factor here. I think some amount of taking it out on those still in it, to whatever degree, gets in the way of being consistent on this matter as well.
Also if one is attacked, or feels attacked, and the two are not always the same thing, one will automatically go into defence mode and whatever we say, however true will not penetrate the mind at all. We might end up not helping them or ourselves, pointless!
If it is true, and I think it is true, that spiritual people preach best when no words are used but example is used, then the same would apply to anyone who thinks the facts are on their side. Obviously words are used but the principle counts I think. It is a question of emphasis and degree.
I would not want to damage someone as a result of carelessly kicking their rocks from under them and watching them drown, so I hope no one is offended by what I have written here. I would want to take them by the hand and lead them to the shoreline and give them a juicy coconut.