Constructive Optimism

Constructive Optimism

Most good skeptics are not at war with typical well-meaning believers. I’m certainly not. I view my fight as being against bad beliefs and for the good people who believe them. In a similar vein, I think malaria is bad, but I certainly don’t have any animosity for its victims. What sense would that make? The kind of skepticism I’m promoting is constructive and optimistic. In my own small way, I’m trying to be constructive by helping to improve the world for all of us. Because I’m optimistic, I think our species has the potential to become more rational. So when people indicate that they are not comfortable asking questions and demanding evidence because it might cost them a few of their cherished beliefs, I appreciate their concern but don’t hesitate to explain what unproven beliefs have done and continue to do to our world. I also mention what the skeptical lifestyle offers. It’s the greatest weight-reduction plan of all time, one that actually works. It trims away the mental fat and turns people into lean thinking machines capable of running strong and long rather than stumbling passively through a possibly diminished life. I don’t disregard believers’ fear of loss because I know it is probably sincere. Giving up beliefs that probably aren’t true may not be that big of a deal in my view, but the perception some have that it is a big deal makes the concern important enough. Yes, something will be lost when skeptical thinking is allowed to run its course. The loss is not so great relatively, however, because of what one stands to gain: everything.

Why are many people reluctant or uninterested in becoming good skeptics? Is it because they haven’t heard enough about the wisdom of skepticism? That’s one problem, of course, but there is an even bigger one. Many people are afraid that they will lose social footing if they embrace skepticism. If their new way of thinking corrodes or dissolves the warm blanket of superstition they have wrapped around themselves, not only could they end up out in the cold but also they might find themselves suddenly alone, without friends, family, and community support. So on top of a conviction that says their unproven and unlikely-to-be-true beliefs give them comfort, strength, and meaning is the fear that abandoning those beliefs could leave them socially isolated. This is not a trivial or unreasonable concern. Beliefs do serve as a social glue or platform for building and maintaining relationships of all kinds. The best response to this, however, is to point out the obvious: There are many ways in which people come together and enjoy meaningful connections that have nothing to do with unproven beliefs. Again, remember to consider the example of the many people who make their way in life without silencing their skeptical minds. They’re not all hopeless hermits doomed to dwell on the cold, dark fringes of society. They have families. They have friends. However, no one should deny that it can sometimes be very difficult to fit in and be accepted when you don’t believe as others do. Good skeptics have to realize that every moment doesn’t need to be a clash of philosophies and a debate over evidence for this or that. The “live and let live” attitude works well at the party, on the street, and in the office most of the time. Included among my friends, for example, are people who seem to believe every kooky and bizarre claim ever to be inflicted on an innocent brain. Although I may worry about them at times, I still think of them as valid human beings in every way, of course. Their friendships add value to my life. I may raise questions about their beliefs from time to time, but I don’t feel the need to vigorously challenge them on a daily basis. I can offer ideas and encourage them to think, but ultimately it’s up to them.

It also has been one of the joys of my life to discover that so many believers can and do accept me for who I am. This is not to say that I have not been rejected, had my feelings hurt, and been mistreated by some because of my skeptical ways. It’s never going to be a consistently smooth ride for the good skeptic, not on this fantasy-prone planet. But does anyone anywhere enjoy a smooth ride all the time? Don’t we all hit the occasional bump in the road? The trick is to just keep going. Skeptics aren’t alone in this. Even believers deal with acceptance and rejection issues. Does the New Age connoisseur of magic crystals find herself welcome among Pentecostals? Probably not. Does the Christian feel safe at a Taliban prayer gathering? Definitely not. We all have moments in life that bring tension and the possibility of conflict or rejection.

Fear of losing friends or complicating family relationships is not a sufficient reason to avoid becoming a good skeptic. No doubt other people matter. We are social creatures in the extreme. But surrendering or sacrificing one’s mind out of fear and insecurity is not the best way to maintain membership in the human club. Your brain is the one thing that makes being human special. Use it, become a good skeptic, and figure out the social stuff as you go along. If you happen to be in extremely complicated circumstances, say you are stuck on an island with people who think dragons are coming to save the world and these people might kill you if you question their claims, then use common sense and keep quiet. If you are at a place in life where you depend on believers for food, shelter, or security, then don’t bother mentioning that you have analyzed their ideas and found them to be ridiculous. Just keep quiet and smile whenever they talk about dragons. Meanwhile, take pride in your independent thought, be happy you aren’t deluded like them, and work on finding a new place to live.