Three Dangerous Ideas
There is this book called “The Coddling of the American Mind” by Greg Lukianoff and Johnathan Haidt. I want to read it. I’ll tell you why.
The main thesis is that there are three dangerous ideas that has taken hold of university campuses. Students embrace them en masse and by doing that they hamper their future well-being and resilience. The three ideas are:
- What doesn’t kill you makes you weaker
- Your feelings are always to be trusted
- Life is a battle between good and bad people
Like I said, I still need to read the book but even this thesis immediately resonated with me. I do see it in students and I fear that what is problematic on campuses today, will be even more problematic in society tomorrow.
We live in a world where every challenge is seen as a threat and an excuse to put on a victim label and cry for help. To shove responsibility. It manifests into an attitude where I feel my mission is accomplished as soon as I pointed out what and who is wrong. Adversity isn’t seen as an opportunity to strengthen me in my convictions and identity but as something that should really not be there and relieves me of any attempt to try making things better.
Feelings should be taken seriously. It is a good thing to articulate how you feel. But to act just on feelings, to elevate feelings above rationality, age-old wisdom and other people’s perspective is a recipe for disaster. Good actions are taken when feelings are either managed or after they have settled. Acting on how you feel in the moment is playing a dangerous roulette.
Life is a battle between good and bad. But people do not come in such a clear cut, either/or variety. We are all a complicated mix between good and bad. Putting people into boxes of good and bad according to one thing we happen to like or dislike, blinds us and sets us up for either disappointment or guilt. The trick is to muster the good we see in ourselves and others for a goal or a worthy (good) cause. It is also to manage the bad and carry it in such a way that it is contained and do not hurt others, even in such a way that it is treated and recedes.
You are able to conquer some really tough things and God is with you as you battle for life in the midst of death. Feelings can be very misleading even though you dare not deny them. People are not only good nor only bad but God is wholly good and Satan contests his goodness. God’s goodness can save you from the bad which is inside you. He can have the good have the last say, because that is the part that came from Him.