My dad was a practical person. He would always just classify issues as black or white, right or wrong, good or evil. Categorisation is a straightforward methodology to make your life simple and your decision making uncomplicated.
I however live in a complex world, where not every issue comes across as simply black or white, and I find my understanding of what is suitable and decent, coloured by my upbringing, education, cultural context and Christian beliefs.
The reason we have much disagreement and antagonism in this world, is primarily because of ideology. These belief systems are our non-negotiables that we hold on to, and refused to reconsider. The problem with ideology is that it inhibits us from being able to see or even consider someone else’s belief or understanding. We all of course regard ourselves as reasonable people, who can see all sides of an argument or belief, and therefore make up our mind objectively.
Once we have an established ideology, it is almost impossible to reconsider any other probability. It is sacrosanct to us and every other opinion will lack logic or validity in light of our sacred and non-negotiable belief.
I have had to re-evaluate many things I held as absolute and immutable. In order to grow and develop, I have learnt to always contemplate a Third Option. Asking the following questions has helped: Is there another way to see this? Am I considering all the possibilities in this issue? Could I be wrong in this? Ideology prevents me from doing any of this, and constrains my ability to even ponder anything else that differs from those ideas I hold dear.
Of course, there isn’t always a Third Option… but if I start with that foundational premise, I will always consider the validity of other views, and keep an open mind that will allow me not be locked into to any limited understanding of any perspective or issue.
The Good book says; I sought out to know, to search, and to seek out wisdom, and to reason all things, even the ones I thought were foolish and madness… Ecclesiastes 7:25. What a different world would it be if we always considered a third option…
