We have all seen politically charged, myopic fundamentalist material pass through our feeds. Social media sites such as Facebook have brought our thoughts and opinions together. If we are in disagreement with their views, at the very least these posts invoke a face-palm.
We have all seen politically charged, myopic fundamentalist material pass through our feeds. Social media sites such as Facebook have brought our thoughts and opinions together. If we are in disagreement with their views, at the very least these posts invoke a face-palm.
We have all seen politically charged, myopic fundamentalist material pass through our feeds. Social media sites such as Facebook have brought our thoughts and opinions together. If we are in disagreement with their views, at the very least these posts invoke a face-palm.
Brooke Gomes is a digital media artist, musician, and writer with an
interest in epistemology and the curious behaviors of human beings.
05.01.2015
Fundamentalist Influence and Tolerance Among Social Media Users
There is an insidious trend among social media users. Weve all seen it. Many are guilty. As you scroll through your Facebook feed past cats, personalized ads, baby pictures, complaints, and the occasional witty status, eventually you will be confronted with a conflagratory religious post. I am not referring to the quotes and memes touting love thy neighbor type scriptures. We have all seen politically charged, myopic fundamentalist material pass through our social media feeds, usually courtesy of an estranged friend or relative. And, if we are in disagreement with their views, at the very least these posts invoke a good old fashioned face-palm. What is really going on here? First, lets consider religions (and by extension, political parties) sordid past of convert or die strategies. By uniting large populations with a common belief structure, it was easier for the state to control the masses and create functional societies based on divine authority. Now, lets combine that with the tribalistic nature of homo-sapiens and we have a recipe for cognitive bias and the avoidance of contradictory information. This behavior persists because the pre-conscious ego devises ways to navigate the world and enable its own survival. In other words, we are wired based around the needs of our deepest unconscious desires and we actively seek out groups to identify with based on those desires and our conscious interpretation of them. Now that we understand the mechanism behind these actions, lets re-examine the austere creators of these religious posts. Maybe they are afraid of death, or worse, afraid of life. These beliefs give them something to rationalize their existence, their inevitable death. It is the rare intellect that is not plagued by the crushing weight of its own existence and the need to ensure its eternal survival. In light of this, it is understandable that such large portions of the global populace subscribe to beliefs that give them a sense of security and order in the world. Social media sites such as Facebook have brought our thoughts and deepest fears out into the daylight before a large and diverse audience. Social media users are subjected to a variety of unprovoked opinions and beliefs and when those differ from our own, it is all too easy to join the discussion, which frequently devolves into an inflammatory debate. Should we, as civilized people, be tolerant of others beliefs? Absolutely. What about if those preaching hate and separatism are trampling the foundation of a philosophy based on peace and love? Then we, as educated individuals, should understand the root of their beliefs and seek to inspire peace within the hearts of our fellow humans. We are a species that learns and evolves through mimicry, and if we lead by an example of love, then surely we can ignite that yearning for connectivity and belonging in a positive and productive way.