ttps://newslit.org/
Before you go on, an article in the May 8 & May 22 issue of Science News ran with a cover "Awash in Deception: How science can help us avoid being duped by misinformation." In the lead article titled: "The Battle Against Fake News," Alexandra Witze presents five suggestions on how to debunk bad information. They come from the News Literacy Project (see the above link).
How to Debunk:
1. Arm yourself with media literacy skills, at sites such as the News Literacy Project (newslit.org), to better understand how to spot hoax videos and stories.
2. Don't stigmatize people for holding inaccurate beliefs. Show empathy and respect, or you're more likely to alienate your audience than successfully share accurate information.
3. Translate complicated but true ideas into simple messages that are easy to grasp. Videos, graphics and other visual aids can help.
4. When possible, once you provide a factual alternative to the misinformation, explain the underlying fallacies (such as cherry- picking information, a common tactic of climate change deniers.
5. Mobilize when you see misinformation being shared on social media as soon as possible. If you see something, say something.
"Misinformation is any information that is incorrect, whether due to error or fake news.
"Disinformation is deliberately intended to deceive."
"Propaganda is disinformation with a political agenda."
Sander van der Linden
Social Psychologist
University of Cambridge
Source: Science News/May 8, 2021 & May 22, 2021
I was inspired to look for the source of the goodness in me through a workshop offered by our Interim Minister at the First Unitarian Church of San Jose, California.
The workshop was an invitation to write a personal theology. Theology can be defined as “the study of the nature of God and religious belief.” I committed to myself and anyone who gives a rip that I was going to heed the call and embark on the hard work of basically explaining why I am motivated to do good things in the world.
This is important to me in that clearly goodness is something that doesn’t just automatically happen. The flip side of goodness is on the approximately 2,000,000,000 inch 3D TV screen that is the world we live in today.
So, being able to explain the source of my personal goodness will give me some insight into what goodness is and how to spread it. Clearly I believe that goodness should be spread and have a pretty clear idea of what that goodness looks like.
In the midst of my quest to assemble this personal theology, my wife and I moved her 96 and 97 year old parents into a nearby Assisted Living facility. That act of goodness has taken precedence over writing about goodness while we actually do goodness. My personal theology would have to wait.
But, maybe it wouldn’t have to wait. I thought that I would dip my toe into the world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for a sneak peak at what this theology of mine might look like.
So, I went to the Internet and found Chat GPT. I wrote two prompts to see what AI would do with this topic. The first prompt was: “Write a personal UU (Unitarian Universalist) theology for Bruce Halen.”
The results were not surprising to me. When I actually get around to writing my own Goodness Statement I will incorporate some of the wording that the machine came up with.
The real Personal Theology for Bruce Halen will be real and human and better than the examples that Chat GPT gave me. But, as a bit of entertainment written for a Blog post, I give you the machine’s words on the source of my goodness.
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As a language model developed by OpenAI, I don’t have personal beliefs. However, here is a possible personal theology based on the principles of Universalism, a belief that all people will ultimately be saved and reconciled with God, for a person named Bruce Halen:
Bruce Halen believes in a loving and all-encompassing God who desires the ultimate happiness and well-being of all people, regardless of their beliefs or actions. He sees the universe as a continuously unfolding process of growth, learning, and redemption, in which every person has the potential to develop into the best version of themselves and be reunited with God.
Bruce understands sin not as something that separates us from God, but as a manifestation of our ignorance, fear, and confusion, which can be overcome through self-reflection, self-discovery, and spiritual growth. He believes that everyone has the potential to overcome their limitations and evolve into beings of light and love, through a journey of personal transformation and spiritual awakening.
Bruce recognizes that this journey is not easy, and that each person may face challenges and hardships along the way. However, he sees these difficulties as opportunities for growth and learning, and as a way for people to develop the strength and resilience needed to overcome their limitations and become the best versions of themselves.
Bruce’s theology is centered around the idea of love and compassion, and he sees these values as the foundation of all spiritual growth and personal transformation. He believes that by living a life guided by love and compassion, we can help to bring about a world in which all people are treated with dignity and respect, and where everyone can experience the joy and fulfillment of a life lived in harmony with God and each other.
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Chat GPT response to prompt: Write a personal UU theology for Bruce Halen
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As an AI language model, I don’t have personal beliefs. However, I can write a Unitarian Universalist theology for Bruce Halen based on the principles and values of the Unitarian Universalist faith.
Bruce Halen’s Unitarian Universalist theology is centered on the belief that every person has inherent worth and dignity, and that all people should be treated with respect and compassion. He believes in the power of love and connection to bring people together and create a better world.
Bruce recognizes the inherent interconnectedness of all things and seeks to live in harmony with the natural world. He views the universe as a complex and mysterious system, and believes that all religions and spiritual traditions offer valuable insights into the meaning and purpose of life.
Bruce embraces a non-creedal approach to spirituality, valuing personal experience and intuition over dogmatic adherence to a particular set of beliefs. He believes that the search for truth and understanding is a lifelong journey, and that each person must find their own path.
In his daily life, Bruce seeks to live out his UU principles by acting with kindness and fairness, working for social justice, and protecting the environment. He recognizes the importance of community and the role it plays in supporting and enriching the lives of individuals.
Overall, Bruce’s UU theology is one of love, compassion, respect, and continual growth and discovery.
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As an AI language model, I cannot create a personal theology for an individual as religious beliefs are deeply personal and shaped by a multitude of experiences and individual perspectives. However, I can provide some information on Unitarian Universalism (UU) as a religious tradition.
UU is a liberal religion that emphasizes individual spiritual growth and the search for truth and meaning through personal experience, reason, and intuition. UUs believe in the inherent worth and dignity of every person and the interconnectedness of all life. The tradition is inclusive and encourages individuals to explore their own spirituality without dogma or creed. UUs often draw from a variety of religious and philosophical sources, including but not limited to Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, humanism, and earth-centered spirituality.
In UU, there is a focus on social justice and taking action to create a more just and equitable world. Members are encouraged to work towards equality and the elimination of oppression in all its forms.
In summary, UU provides a framework for individuals to explore their own spirituality and beliefs while also emphasizing the importance of social justice and the inherent worth and dignity of every person.
Regenerate response
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