Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., Wikipedia, “Bias”

It can therefore be said that bias is the art of interpreting reality with our own feelings, beliefs, preferences, experiences, personalities, and emotions. It is clouding reality with our own subjective perceptions. Objectivity is the art of separating our own feelings, beliefs, preferences, experiences, personalities, and emotions from reality.

Reality as each of us knows it is quite a subjective view than an objective view in many areas. We largely live in our own boxes, shaped by our inborn makeup (inborn personality traits) and by our upbringing (home, friends, community, education, economics, politics, religion, media, pivotal life experiences, etc). William Hazlitt said, “We are all of us, more or less, the slaves of opinion,” (Hazlitt (1778-1830) British essayist).

The result is seeing reality with what cognitive psychologists call “cognitive biases.” It is partial realty and partial subjective perception. The percentage of each subject area varies from person to person and from each one's learning curve in life.

What are cognitive biases?

A good definition of cognitive biases is given by Richards J. Heuer, Jr. in his book Psychology of Intelligence Analysis . His book was apparently written for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) for its Center for the Study of Intelligence. If you have no clue who or what the CIA is it may be better to remain clueless. It's certainly not a Christian institution and is capable of doing some "scary" things.

Here's Heuer's definition: “Cognitive biases are mental errors caused by our simplified information processing strategies. It is important to distinguish cognitive biases from other forms of bias, such as cultural bias, organizational bias, or bias that results from one's own self-interest. In other words, a cognitive bias does not result from any emotional or intellectual predisposition toward a certain judgment, but rather from subconscious mental procedures for processing information. A cognitive bias is a mental error that is consistent and predictable.” (Richards J. Heuer, Jr, Psychology of Intelligence Analysis , page 111).

Thus some of what we think is right could be wrong. Each of us can find out if we're willing to test the assumed truth against other different and disagreeing points of view. Thus the challenge is removing subjective perceptions that are blocking the true realty being seen.

It is worth removing the boxes that lock us in our own world of reality because true reality is liberating. Boxes are mental prisons and their harm in life depends on the relative importance of an area they're affecting in our lives. The different kinds of mental boxes are the types of wrong beliefs and perceptions being followed. There are some wrong beliefs and perceptions that are very destructive to one's life while others may not be so harmful.

Like ignorance our mental boxes are a form of mental slavery that render us to be vulnerable to exploitation in the areas of wrong thoughts, beliefs and perceptions. Mental boxes constitute a lack of knowledge to the right understanding. Lack of knowledge is basically ignorance. The bible has sad news about lack of knowledge.

“My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge,” Hosea 4:6.

Lack of knowledge therefore leads to destruction. This destruction can be in any area(s) of one's life: spiritual, social, physical health, or material health. One of these forms of destruction concerns our spiritual makeup.

God's people, not those whose father is the devil (John 8:44) are destroyed from lack of knowledge. God's people are destroyed not because Satan is strong and furious. It is because they lack knowledge in areas Satan, his fellow fallen angels, and malicious people are able to gain access. Once knowledge in the area of concern is acquired the exploitations a Christian struggled with come to an end. The needed knowledge and understanding in the area of concern brings freedom.

“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free,” John 8:32.

The Christian box, the only Mental Box worth Remaining in

As Christians our only leash or chain around our necks to keep us from going further is the Christian box. We remain within our box of Christian beliefs even when looking at other beliefs.

We have plenty of different interpretations of the bible anyway to examine among ourselves. It's very healthy examining these other interpretations within the body of Christ. It helps in removing unnecessary denominational boxes. Unnecessary denominational boxes only work to divide us and thus reducing the effectiveness that would come from our combined effort.

For example, if I were a Baptist I can freely explore the doctrines and biblical understanding of other denominations on a particular matter. I explore them without a boxed up or preconceived opinion about their understanding. Neither do I keep a preconceived opinion about my church's understanding.

I objectively compare the doctrines and biblical understanding of the two denominations on a particular matter. I ensure that the conclusion to be made will not be influenced by my own preconceptions, feelings, beliefs of my church, preferences, experiences, personality, and emotions. It will be based on objective analysis of biblical interpretations on particular areas.

Until finding a satisfactory biblical understanding I keep moving to explore the doctrines and biblical understanding from other denominations (and non- denominations) within the Christian box. The areas of inquiry may be on teachings on spiritual warfare, deliverance, spiritual healing, tongues, finances, angels, salvation, and so on. My understanding is also based on sound doctrinal and biblical analysis within the extensive Christian box rather than merely from the denomination of my affiliation.

I feel at liberty to differ with certain doctrinal beliefs within my denomination yet comfortably remain a part of it. It is the major areas of agreement that keep me within the denomination of my affiliation, not just mere acceptance of everything they teach. I strive to be an informed advocate of the Christian faith while avoiding to be a blind loyalist to unnecessary denominational boxes.

I also feel at liberty to associate with fellow believers from other denominations (and non-denominations). I refrain from judging their walk with God simply based on the denomination they belong to. Together we constitute the body of Christ. We're one giant Christian box. It's not perfect but it's functional and doing its work. It will be made perfect when Christ returns.

Next Part Removing Unnecessary Boxes

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