Personal Theology (Personal Version/Draft 1)

https://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

Here is what is surely only the beginning of my personal theology or for the less religious or atheists among you, my stab at answering those ethereal questions: Who am I, Why am I here and Where the hell am I going.

_______________________________________________

What I Believe

I believe that all people regardless of race, intelligence, religion, age or anything else that other humans may create to try and divide them, are created equally in the eyes of the divine.

I believe that the divine is the sum of all souls and matter that are or that have ever lived or been a part of the Universe or the Multiverse that currently exists or has ever existed.

I believe that it is the responsibility of each individual being to think and act in the best interest of each other being, human or otherwise.

I believe that there is good and evil and I choose the side of good.  I acknowledge that there is evil in me, but it is my work to feed the side of goodness.

I believe that my small existence has a greater purpose than I can comprehend.

I believe in living my life in service to other beings, living and non-living.  It is through that service and thoughtfulness that makes me whole and is my path to personal enlightenment.

I believe that when our bodies die, our souls live on.  They find another body to reside in and continue on the path toward enlightenment.

I believe that “human” is a title that needs to be earned.  Just by virtue of being a member of the species Homo sapiens doesn’t automatically designate that person as being a human being. There are no “bad” human beings.

I believe in acknowledging my own weaknesses and frailties and in using them to become a better human being.

I believe that the mind of every individual should be developed to the highest and greatest possible level