To discern truth, think more like a scientist.

One of the BFOs (Blinding Flash of the Obvious) after the Capitol Riots of January 6 is the imperative – not a “nice-to-have,” but an urgency – to be logical in your fact-checking and be willing to consider (and evaluate) information that doesn’t sync with what you believe to be true. Not only is this a personal responsibility, it’s a responsibility as a caring family member or good neighbor.

Who cares what you think? Meh ? – It’s what you share that matters.

Lies can get amplified and become calcified as “belief,” with horrific results. In a recent Christian Science Monitor article on the disastrous effect of believing the lie that President Biden did not win the majority of votes in the 2020 election, the seed of the lie can germinate and flourish due to this:

• Motivated reasoning, in which people reach conclusions they emotionally desire, and
• Confirmation bias, in which people interpret new evidence as confirmation of one’s existing beliefs.

Rethink: Like a Scientist, not a Lawyer

Jennifer Mercieca, a professor of rhetoric and expert in political discourse at Texas A&M University says, “When it comes to decisions, we think of ourselves as scientists, dispassionately weighing evidence to reach conclusions. That’s not the case. Instead we are more like lawyers. We already have a point and we look for evidence to support that point.”

Be open to discovering new information and new facts. Consider, fact-check, respect what you learn enough to share only the facts. It’s a responsibility we all share.