Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is not about being negative but discerning and refers to the ability to identify trustworthy information, analyze the facts and make reasoned judgments and decisions. It is about being an active learner, exercising independent thinking rather than just a passive recipient of information. God gave us brains to think with, not just store facts. Critical thinkers rigorously question ideas and assumptions in a consistent and systematic way to see what evidence supports a particular claim or conclusion, rather than accepting them at face value or by intuition. Conspiracy theories look at events from a different perspective. Challenging ‘this is the way it’s always been done’ has been the cause of change both personally and in society by adopting a new approach. Nothing is beyond being politely and honestly investigated.

While we should question and challenge much of the information we are bombarded with to ascertain what is true and what is fake, in areas of spirituality which covers everything from our sinfulness in the sight of a

Do not blindly accept all you hear and read

holy God, to morals and how we are to treat others the Bible is the unchanging guide book of truth that should shape our views, "Your Word is truth" (Jn 17:17). If we hold differing assumptions to His standards we are the one that must alter. What He has clearly stated must not be discarded in preference to adopting societies deteriorating values.

Even when there has been robust discussion and the same facts are evaluated there may well be a differing conclusion reached. Diversity of perspective is healthy and there is not necessarily a right or wrong solution such as in the controversial issues of life where there is tension between two valid Biblical viewpoints. Respect must be shown to those who hold a different viewpoint to yours.