Misunderstanding is common in conversation, but what really impoverishes speech nowadays is the subjects that are off-limits.

Political correctness has made everyone aware that some topics are off-limits and even particular words have now been banned.

Free speech is under attack but let us notice that it began long ago with the supposed rule for polite society that one should not speak about religion, politics and sex in polite company.

Of course. this was an early form of speech impoverishment, interfering with free speech. This trio of banned topics was curtailed to ‘religion and politics’, because sex with all its promiscuous varieties is now in the public domain, ever since HIV and Aids in the 1980s broke the taboo on speaking about homosexuality in public. Now it is even discussed in Scottish primary schools, robbing young children of the innocence of childhood.

Then the next taboo fell, and politics is now very much on the agenda with political correctness. Political speeches are part of the Oscar awards and sport has been politicised, nevertheless politics is still banned from some discussion groups.

The third taboo is still in place. In very few places can one speak about religion. This means that false religion continues to flourish in the echo-chambers where it is allowed, instead of being exposed to the light of day in public discussion. Political correctness is trying to shut down public debate on religion even further, removing it from the public square, and the sexualising agenda of secularism hopes to silence the mouths of Christians by teaching its variety of sexual behaviours to their primary school children. The Scottish Christian Party drew attention to the sexualisation agenda as long ago as 2006 but its prophetic voice fell on deaf ears. Instead, false religion flourishes in public debate, unidentified as such by a religiously illiterate public.

Intelligent people and religion

There are intelligent people who object to discussing religion. This means that they rarely hear the Gospel, so it is no wonder that few of them understand the teaching of Jesus Christ and even fewer follow Him.

Jesus put it like this: “the gate is narrow and the way is crowded that leads to life, and few there be that find it.” No wonder in our day, when so few people are allowed to speak to them about it. It will not always be so.

Jesus Christ Mat 7:14

It also means that even intelligent people are easily taken in by false religion and they do not recognise secular religion for what it is because they know so little about religion. However, some secular commentators are beginning to see the similarities between tree-huggers and the religious fervour that has erected shrines to murdered George Floyd, now described as a martyr.

Political speeches and politics is just another manner of expressing one’s opinions, and these opinions often articulate false doctrine and are part of secular religion.

Unable to converse

Now, secular society is reaping what it has sown. Political correctness, whose topics are determined by the latest woke agenda, is shutting down debate, which is upsetting many intelligent people who have been caught out by false religions inhibiting free speech.

The prophetic voice is ahead of its time, which is why many people do not believe it and will not listen to it.

Christian conversation – the need of the times

Jesus Christ is looking for His church to open the door and bring Him into the conversations from which He is so often excluded. If the church will not do so, then let individuals do so and Jesus will give them the benefit of His fellowship Rev 3:20.

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock. If any man hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.”

Jesus Christ Rev 3:20

Jesus Christ will ‘come in and sup’ with those who open the door for Christ to come into their conversation. He comforts those who experience opposition from those who would resist it: “You are blessed when men revile you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” Mat 5:11-12.

Updates:

22 Jan 2018: tricks in debates from “conversational bullies”.

29 Mar 2023: MPs in the UK House of Commons refuse to listen to an opposing opinion.