Sometimes in Christian circles we engage in magical thinking. Rather than having Faith in Jesus and his love and purpose for us we use symbolic things. I don't wear a cross around my neck, not that I'm against it, but sometimes christian symbols can be talismans.
These two articles are really good. If you read both of them you will grasp the idea of what happens when people believe in magical thinking.
It happens when people believe in myths and rumors too. The carburetor that gets 200 miles per gallon. The car that runs on pure water. The magnet that goes around a grain elevator and makes the grain germinate better. I saw this one in Saskatchewan some years ago. Magical thinking. Many health food stores would never survive without magical thinking. Most supplements sold are magical thinking supplements.
Much foolish policy comes from magical thinking. Some of our economic policies are caused by it to our detriment.
Some of the energy schemes that the government has supported and endorsed are nothing different from holding up a crucifix to ward off evil spirits. Wind power for energy is one such. It doesn't work and never will except as a localized supplemental power source. Someone is going to get make a great deal of money someday digging up and removing all these stupid magical thinking wind farms. Solar power has hope, but there are magical thinkers there too.
There are people who so believe in magic that they think a little credit card sized solar cell will attach to the top of your car and you will drive for free. Or that a fuel pellet will be dropped in the gas tank and you will drive a million miles for nothing.
Our current occupant of the white house was elected by people that believed in magical thinking rather than common sense. I remember asking supporters of Obama what it is that he had ever done that made him qualified to be the President. They couldn't tell me. They just knew that if we elected this icon, this human talisman that all our problems would be solved. So we did. And the man is so far out of his league and underwater that I don't know if he will EVER surface.
Irrational or Magical Thinking can lead a person to behave and respond to events with all kinds of anxiety. The global warming cooling or something balderdash alive in the world today is just Magical Thinking. That human activity causes the climate change is the kind of unrelated event association that creates magical thinking error.
My advice today if I have some, is stay away from myths and rumors. Paul advised his son in the Lord, Timothy to beware of Magical Thinking:
1 Timothy 1:4 Do not pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith. AND 4:7 Refuse profane and old wives' fables. The foolish myths and legends of the heathen, and also the marvelous additions which Jewish rabbis had made to the Old Testament. Reject all these
It's still good advice. If Paul were writing to us today he might say, "Don't be seduced by magical thinking"..
2 comments:
10 Reasons Not To Invite People to Follow Christ at Your Church (in other words, no altar call)
1)You are afraid of rejection.
2)You think everyone at church is already a believer.
3)You wouldn’t dream of offending someone.
4)You don’t really believe the Gospel changes lives.
5)You are so busy preaching about “sex” or “how to have a better life” that you don’t have time to present Christ.
6)You would rather tell another joke than spend time explaining the Gospel.
7)You don’t want to be criticized for being narrow minded.
8)You care more about everyone feeling welcome than about their eternity.
9)You are embarrassed to talk a lot about Jesus.
10)You don’t really really believe the Gospel yourself.
Amen! That about covers it!
Another choice with many consequences.
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