<Challenging Dogma: The Need for Flexibility in Thought>
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“It is a characteristic of our era's elitism to believe that because we possess more knowledge about natural phenomena than our predecessors, we are consequently less credulous.” — John Randall, Psychokinesis
Terms Defined
When individuals encounter the term “ideology,” they often associate it with a structured political belief or a specific way of thinking.
A synonym for ideology is “dogma,” which refers to a rigid belief system, particularly religious, that individuals are expected to accept without question. In this context, I will use the terms ideology and dogma interchangeably.
Ideology tends to reinforce a fixed mindset, making thought processes rigid and formulaic. In today's information-driven world, such inflexible thinking is particularly unwise.
Why is that?
With the advent of the internet, we now have unparalleled access to diverse information and perspectives—much more than any one person could ever fully explore or critically assess.
We don’t know what we don’t know.
We are inundated with new information, and we have more opportunities than ever to encounter viewpoints that challenge our own beliefs. The pace at which knowledge accumulates in any given field surpasses our ability to keep up, and this information is almost immediately available online for others to review.
Consequently, our cognitive frameworks can, in theory, be continuously updated and refined, evolving to become more sophisticated.
Consider how life was before the digital age. In 1886—often recognized as the year modern automobiles were born—ideological thinking was more justifiable. Information flow was far more restricted than it is today, with limited access to diverse viewpoints. Communication relied on painfully slow methods such as steam engines, horse-drawn carts, and ships, taking weeks or months for correspondence to reach its destination.
In contrast, today you can instantly share links to studies or articles with friends via text, all while juggling other online activities.
What relevance does this have for dogmatic thought?
I'm glad you asked. Dogmatic thinking resists change—unnaturally so. It is often associated with religious fundamentalism, which, in my view, is outdated and irrelevant in the 21st century, also known as the “information age.”
When a rigid, fundamentalist mindset takes hold, it diminishes your adaptability and logical reasoning abilities, making you more susceptible to the fallacy of axiomatic thinking and related fallacies.
In essence, dogma and ideology constrict intellectual capacity. They can make individuals less intelligent than they could be.
Why would anyone choose such a limitation? The truth is, such choices are rarely conscious. Self-awareness is not a strong trait among dogmatists.
The Science is Settled (and other complete nonsense)
How often have we heard specific groups assert that “the science is settled” on contentious issues?
Far too often.
What they genuinely mean is, “My mind is made up, and I am closed off to any further information—unless it aligns with my current viewpoint. I refuse to change. I am a dogmatist.” (No names mentioned!)
Fundamentalists typically reject heretics and dissenting opinions. Their desire is for status, to avoid losing face, to belong, and to be “right.” They want others to adopt their views so fervently that, in extreme instances, they have resorted to horrific acts, including torture and murder, to impose their beliefs on others.
The arrogance inherent in this mindset is truly astonishing.
As demonstrated, ideology and dogma can quickly transform from rigid thinking into elitism and heinous acts against humanity. Totalitarian regimes have historically justified their violence and oppression by invoking the “greater good.”
But critical thinkers, who possess the invaluable skill of discernment, see through such rhetoric. It’s merely self-serving language designed to pacify thought and dull perception, a hallmark of effective propaganda that numbs rational thinking while amplifying emotional responses.
Thus, avoid becoming an ideologue who pretends to have all the answers. Those who claim to know everything are deceiving only themselves.
Science is never truly settled—its purpose is to continuously investigate, validate, replicate, and enhance our understanding. This progress halts if we pretend that knowledge is static and cannot be modified or improved.
If monkeys were given a day to construct a treehouse using human tools, would you accept their initial attempt as the ultimate design?
I didn't think so.
In a lecture at the University of Southwestern Louisiana in 1989, the late biologist Ian Stevenson stated:
> "What [history] has taught me is the transience of our material accomplishments and, even more, our ideas about the nature of humanity… Knowledge in science, as Whitehead said, keeps like fish… For me, everything believed by scientists is open to question, and I am always disheartened to find that many scientists view current knowledge as eternally fixed. They confuse the product with the process."
The process continues! It’s a modern tragedy that so few scientists are capable critical thinkers beyond their accepted boundaries, and that many professionals succumb to the allure of ideology and dogma.
Be flexible, open, and adaptable.
You are a finite being in an infinite universe of information. The total amount of information on Earth is, for practical purposes, infinite relative to an individual human. This reality renders us all infinitely ignorant—a sobering idea, isn’t it?
Symptoms of Dogmatism
Characteristics of dogmatism and ideology include:
- Promotes intellectual laziness
- Encourages flawed reasoning (e.g., groupthink, doublethink, confirmation bias, axiomatic thinking)
- Deters evidence-based inquiry
- Fosters gullibility and makes individuals easier to manipulate
- Reduces cognitive flexibility
- Limits intellectual growth
- Amplifies Plato’s double ignorance (not knowing what you don’t know)
Truth seekers, in contrast to dogmatists, are never satisfied. Although we know complete knowledge is unattainable, we yearn to grow and adapt to new information. This is why dogmatism repulses us, and closed minds are so tiresome.
Consider:
> “It is increasingly recognized that one cannot meaningfully discuss the implications and findings of quantum mechanics without factoring in the effects of consciousness on quantum systems. Less than a century ago, we were firmly rooted in a mechanistic worldview and believed such a situation was impossible. Imagine where we might be in another century.”
> “If you can take a step back from the prevailing paradigm that shapes your thinking, you may find yourself less disturbed by scientific research that redefines the boundaries of science and encourages paradigms to grow or evolve.”
> “Why?”
> “Because we can then recognize that science has never fully described the Universe; it has constructed models of it—approximations—some of which can even be mutually exclusive (like quantum physics versus certain aspects of Einstein’s relativity, which is facing increasing scrutiny).”
Curing Dogmatism
The remedy for dogmatism is simpler than it is easy.
Over the years, I have observed that life often compels individuals to confront experiences that challenge their established beliefs, humbling them and opening them to new ideas—perhaps those they once opposed.
My advice? Don’t wait for the universe to force you to change.
Embrace transformation and strive for growth. Otherwise, you risk becoming a dinosaur waiting for the meteor.
Steps to Overcoming Ideology and Dogmatism:
- Explore spirituality and engage in experiences beyond your egoic mind (like altered states of consciousness through meditation, breathwork, or plant medicine ceremonies).
- Detach from your ego and cultivate an observer perspective where you and your ego are not identical (you are the stream of consciousness experiencing your ego). Therefore, attachment to its beliefs is absurd.
- Recognize that your models and opinions of the world are mere constructs of your mind/ego. They do not define you, nor are they absolute truths.
- Actively seek out information that challenges your comfort zone and questions your assumptions. Consider that you might be wrong, and experiencing the discomfort of “defeat” can lead to significant personal growth.
- Avoid forming strong opinions on topics you haven't thoroughly researched from multiple perspectives. This mistake is common among professionals, including doctors and scientists.
- Given that science has become our modern “secular religion,” it’s crucial to acknowledge the prevalence of fraudulent and flawed research presented as indisputable fact. Science and medicine are rife with corruption and agenda-driven misinformation that can pass through the peer review process and shape our worldview. Investigate beyond surface-level science, questioning its credibility, funding sources, and potential conflicts of interest.
- Remember that knowledge is always evolving, not static. Align yourself with growth and transformation.
Signing Off
Truth seekers can easily detect stagnant, dogmatic thinking.
People should strive to be more curious, more measured, and more original—because ideology is not enhancing anyone's intelligence; it merely inflates confidence.
1 John Randall, Psychokinesis, 12. 2 https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/dogma 3 Ian Stevenson, Some of My Journeys in Medicine (A Lecture about Science and Reincarnation, 1989). www.childpastlives.org/library_articles/stevensonlecture.html 4 Brendan D. Murphy, The Grand Illusion — Book 1