5 minute read
Very Reverend Glennon Jones: Controlling Bias
Recently I found an intriguing little book entitled “Spy the Lie”—written by CIA operatives—which focuses on spotting deception. A key point of that skill is that, to be successful in rooting out truth from someone who is lying, one must control one’s own biases toward the person’s state or behavior— avoid assuming either truthfulness or deception in anyone. After all, who among us has not been surprised to find that a favorite co-worker was deceptive, or maybe had a good friend or confidante (or beloved) betray you…or, on the flip side, hear of a homeless person who returned a wad of cash—persons and actions one would never suspect? We need only look at the abuse scandals in churches, schools, the Boy Scouts, the Olympic gymnastics teams, and even in hearths and homes to see—tragically— that no place is free of deceivers…wolves in sheep’s clothing. After all, if treachery even happened against Jesus, what chance do the rest of us have to not ever be betrayed in some way?
We all have biases, whether we want to acknowledge them or not. Even in meticulous scientific inquiry it is standard to simply assume that some element of bias will worm its way into the data or results, no matter how much one tries to eliminate it (that’s one reason for peer review and replication). We see in our daily lives and news extreme biases as well; for example, celebrities solicited for their opinions on subjects with which they have no expertise, politicians given automatic praise and credibility should they simply have the “correct” party
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identifiers (D, R, L, I, etc.). Race, culture, education, socio-economic class, and so many more things can go into making up our biases. Here in New Mexico, we might even dismiss a politician for preferring the “wrong” kind of chile! (“Christmas” is usually the safest bet for budding N M pols).
These thoughts came to mind while reading the scriptures of the Catholic Mass for August 16 weekend, all passages pointing to the inclusion ofany and all peoples of righteous heart into God’s kingdom.
Before Jesus, the Biblical Israelites’ biggest bias was believing themselves to be the only beloved of God, even with such prophecies as: “The foreigners [the non-Jews] who join themselves to the LORD… I will bring to my holymountain and make joyful in my house of prayer…for my house shall be called a house ofprayer for all peoples.” (Isaiah 56:6-7) In the Christian era, St. Paul certainly departed from the early paradigm of evangelizing only Jews in the Gospel of Jesus, for Paul would preach to non-Jews as well and even called himself “the apostle to the Gentiles [non-Jews].” (Romans11:13)
But Jesus, of course, was the quintessential “bias breaker”, providing example to His disciples by including, and being considerate to, women and Gentiles in the extreme patriarchy and nationalism of the time, and when such inclusion was strongly frowned upon (see the “Woman at the Well” story of John 4).
One of the best examples of Jesus’ inclusion ministry was our Gospel of August 16 of Jesus healing a Gentile woman’s daughter (Matthew 15:21-28). He and the disciples were in the region of Tyre and Sidon, then occupied by Canaanites—the people the Israelites displaced when Joshua led Israel into the Promised Land. As one might imagine, no love was lost between the two peoples even after 1500 years, and in that much harsher age there was none of this “love your enemies” stuff…at least not toward non-Jews.
When you read the story, Jesus at first seems harsh in His response tothe Canaanite woman…but it only seems so; He is drawing her out as a test of faith—for His disciples (then, and now) to witness and remember. We witness the Jewish animosity toward the Gentiles in the disciples’ utterly heartless response to the woman’s earnest and pitiable plea, they asking Jesus: “Send her away,”…implying “Who cares about the daughter of a pagan?” And yet, with the woman’s continued pleading and display of unshakable faith, Jesus heals
the daughter, praising the woman’s determination and steadfastness. What mattered was not the woman’s race or origin or condition, but rather her heart, reminding us of another scripture: “…the LORD sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but theLORD looks on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)
Now…isn’t THAT good advice!—to “not judge a book by its cover.” And yet…how often we do that very thing. After all, we want to trust…we want to admire our heroes, our friends, our family. And, conversely—and much more blameworthy—we tend to expect dishonesty or ineptitude in certain others, judging not on facts or knowledge, but rather on negative biases and preconceptions. This is why racism and prejudice and bigotry are among the most foolish of prejudgments. What does it matter if a person is purple, green or blue if theyare honest, adept and virtuous? Therefore, we should examine ourselves constantly, asking: Do I condemn “profiling” while myself profiling? Do I despise the lesseducated, the lower socio-economic person, the person of a different color, etc., for those superficial reasons? Kind of foolish, don’t you think?...especially as we look at the saints and see persons of all races, origin and beginnings.
A common test among those of faith is: “Ifyou were charged with being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” After all, to be “Christian” is to have faith in Christ, to follow Christ, and to sincerely attempt to be like Christ—despite those inevitable failures. To this end, the true Christian (Christ-like) way is to despise no one, remembering that each is God’s creation…God’s child…made “very good” (Genesis 1:31)…and also one whom Jesus loved so much that he died for him/her, desiring “all to be saved.” (1 Timothy2:4)
So, O Christian…dare we despise anyone whom Jesus loved so much? Loved…to death?
“…they sang…‘…thou wast slain and by thy blood didst ransom men for God from every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and hast made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on earth.’” (Revelation 5:8-9)
