Articles
Confirmation Bias
“Confirmation bias” is a term that refers to seeing what you expect to see, even if it is wrong. This term was recently used to explain how airline pilots occasionally land at the wrong airport. Sometimes pilots miss the obvious because they interpret their surroundings according to preconceptions. They don’t carefully check their position or they explain away contradictory information by assuming that they are on the right track.
Confirmation bias is common in Bible study. Our beliefs may be formed by early teaching, respect for a theologian or the shared views of those we associate with. But once a notion has solidified in our thinking, we tend to “bend” everything to fit it. If we come across a passage that is glaringly contradictory we don’t even see it. Or if we do experience discomfort, we merely assume there must be a good explanation for the discordant idea and keep moving merrily along.
Are your scriptural views well researched? Do you feel threatened when you hear or read something that conflicts with your conclusions? Our attitude should be one of inquisitiveness. Have I missed something? Does the alternative viewpoint have merit? I have seen some brethren get hot when their views are challenged. Our anger is often in direct proportion to our insecurity. Rather than research and discuss with humility, the tendency is to gain the “high” ground through snide remarks, questioning motives and fearmongering. But this is not high ground; it is the valley of shameful bias and posturing and sophistry.
Unless we insist we are right on everything, we must admit the possibility that we may be wrong on something. If so, it’s not the first time, and it won’t be the last.
