The Opposite of Faith Is Not Doubt, the Opposite of Faith Is Certainty

Good Day to You - Happy January 5th, 2025

I’m in a mindset right now where I just want to get organized—to gather people and work collectively around an issue. It sounds ambitious, maybe even lofty, but it feels necessary.

On a different note, I was thinking last night about my love for landscapes and cityscapes—whether it’s mountains, sprawling city skylines, or just the forms they take. Doing something with these, even something as simple as sharing a daily photo of my favorite landscape or cityscape, feels important to me. Maybe it’s time to start a daily post somewhere to capture and share those moments.

Yaoundé, Cameroon: Both City _and_ Mountains!

There’s definitely a connection between my interest in landscapes, the environment, and the idea of getting organized. It feels worthwhile to explore those links further.

Last night—or perhaps it was early this morning while I was waking up—I had an idea about organizing around a specific concern. I even came up with a name for the group. It was perfect—a term used to describe “them.” But now, I’ve completely forgotten what it was! Ha ha! Well, perhaps I will update this post when it occurs to me once again.

Quotes

On today's quotes

Loads of good strong quotes today that resonate with our headlines.

The Illusion of Certainty

Progress rarely unfolds on a smooth, predictable path. Systems, whether social, economic, or environmental, often cling to comfortable narratives, even when they're clearly failing. Recognizing these "uncomfortable truths" – acknowledging systemic biases, admitting past mistakes, or facing the reality of climate change – is the first, often painful, step towards meaningful change.

Certainty, in a world of constant flux, is an illusion. Adaptability, the willingness to learn, adjust, and course-correct, becomes paramount. This requires humility, recognizing the limitations of our knowledge and the potential for unforeseen consequences.

Status, whether social, economic, or political, exerts a powerful influence on our thinking and behavior. It subtly shapes our beliefs, biases, and the risks we're willing to take. Those desperate to maintain or elevate their status, clinging to power and privilege, often pose the greatest danger. Their actions, driven by fear and insecurity, can have devastating consequences for individuals and societies.  

True resilience stems from confronting denial, both individually and collectively. Shared narratives of the future, where diverse perspectives are valued and integrated, can foster a sense of collective responsibility and a shared commitment to overcoming challenges.

Democracy, at its core, demands active participation, critical thinking, and a willingness to engage in thoughtful compromise. It requires courage to challenge the status quo, to question entrenched beliefs, and to work towards solutions that benefit the common good.

Ultimately, progress hinges on our ability to embrace uncertainty, confront uncomfortable truths, and cultivate a culture of adaptability and shared responsibility.

Quotes

"Other research has shown that occupying a superior position also increases implicit bias." (Keith Payne, The Broken Ladder)

"This contrasting principle is known in systems terms as worse-before-better behavior. This means that long-term success often requires short-term investment or sacrifice." (David Peter Stroh, Systems Thinking for Social Change)

"you have to abandon this idea that you can predict and you can control" 

(Scientific Advice Mechanism, Silvio Funtowicz on Post-Normal Science Advice)

"What work means to people often has less to do with what tasks they are actually performing than with how they relate to and compare themselves to other people." (Keith Payne, The Broken Ladder)

"'In plainer terms,' Baumeister and Bushman write, 'it is not so much the people who regard themselves as superior beings who are the most dangerous but, rather, those who have a strong desire to regard themselves as superior beings.… People who are preoccupied with validating a grandiose self-image apparently find criticism highly upsetting and lash out against the source of it.'" (Lulu Miller, Why Fish Don't Exist)

"Democratic policymaking requires debate, demands compromise and involves critical thinking. It entails considering different viewpoints, anticipating the future, and composing thoughtful legislation." (Simon Gottschalk, The Infantilization of Western Culture)

"Information is the main key to breaking a state of denial. Scenario development in which the range of possible futures is examined and spelled out is one good way of engaging stakeholders in the process." (Brian Walker, David Salt, Resilience Practice)

""The most important thing I learned on Tralfamadore was that when a person dies he only appears to die. He is still very much alive in the past, so it is very silly for people to cry at his funeral. All moments, past, present, and future, always have existed, always will exist." (Kurt Vonnegut, Slaughterhouse-Five)