Us and Them
Chapters
three and four in Disunity in Christ discuss
the idea of “us” and “them”, and the harmful ramifications that these ideas
have. While it is useful to categorize people, places, and things outside of
ourselves to conserve mental energy and to save time, it can become hazardous
when our categories and definitions of other humans become negative,
stereotypical, and biased.
One of
the first things that caught my attention was the way the author immediately
recognizes her own biases and assumption. I believe one of the most important
steps in recognizing and overcoming the disunity in both the church and the
world as a whole is admitting our own faults first. Christena Cleveland is very
bold, yet humble, in her admittance of her own guilt. Whether it’s with a
hipster church in Minnesota or a Calvinist at a university, she readily admits
that she is not guiltless in the realm of harmful categorization.
While I
think it is necessary that we overcome some of our natural tendencies to over-categorize,
I also think it is important that we realize where and when it is useful to do
so. These categories can keep us from becoming overwhelmed by information and
leave us free to continue to interact with the world and with each other in
efficient and organized ways.
However,
it is also clear to me that, much like the author suggests, humanity is not as
clear-cut as a series of boxes and labels. Sure, we can try to clump large
numbers of people into homogenous boxes, but the result will be a jumbled mess
of incorrectly assigned people in boxes they do not belong in. After all, in a
world full of complex people, each person deserves their own box: the individual
is too intricate to define by one or two key words or phrases.
I know I
am certainly the least innocent of this sort of categorization. Humanity is a
complicated and overwhelming collection of individuals I know I cannot begin to
comprehend, so my brain (a brain built for engineering and science and math and
problem-solving more than for human interaction) begins to immediately sort
them into easier-to-understand boxes: no matter the margin of error. It is easy
for me to find stereotypes I can assign each individual to. There is no
difficulty in creating those boxes for others, especially when they are far,
far different from me.
This
pair of chapters challenges me. I certainly do not want to stereotype people. I certainly do not want to display bias against those who I different than me. The
intricacy with which God designed humanity is amazing to me, and I want to
explore those differences and experience them through the lives and stories of
others.
Often
times, however, I do not.
Instead,
I choose us and them.
I am
imperfect. But I would very much like to try to do better.
I love how this commented on how the simple words of "us" and "them" can draw such major distinctions. Highlighting how complex creatures humans are and how nobody can be place in a single box is such an important take away from these chapters! My default is to also assign people to boxes and stereotype them, even though I know it's not what I should do. I also very much would like to do better and I think this reading and digging into it will help me to be more aware so I can catch myself in my stereotyping.
ReplyDeleteThis a great reflection of the chapters. I agree that it was very humble for the author to admit her own basis first. It can be so easy to say that other people judge and place others in boxes, but it's important to recognize that we all do it. I agree, it's hard, but with God nothing is impossible.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Aidan. I appreciate the recognition of your own biases and can certainly relate--love the "box" analogy, by the way! I also enjoyed your discussion of the pros and cons of categorization. Conserving mental energy certainly has its time, place, and function; however, we must not let categorization cloud our views of the complex, albeit different, individuals among us. I, too, do not want to stereotype or give in to my biases. Unfortunately though, as I see it, working against such tendencies is (and will probably always be) a battle.
ReplyDeleteYes, I can't help but think of the "us vs them" when considering the Kavenhough conversation right now. It's clear that the country is divided politically and this is not the first time. It's difficult to think about how we can come together when people are so passionately driving by their morals and values. We experience a lot dissonance if we have to face the idea that what we value is inaccurate or even wrong. Thanks for helping me reflect on that!
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