Public discussion is polarising society into the familiar “us and them” mantra. “Are you one of us?”

Current discussions too often resolve into binary choices, and many people expect you to subscribe to one or other – left or right, for or against Donald Trump, for or against the Russo-Ukrainian war or the coronavirus vaccine, etc.

Very few situations are binary. Life and death are binary; male and female are binary; but most choices are not so.

Mainstream media and social media

What about belief? Is it binary – belief or unbelief? Are there more choices? What about the media? Do you believe it or not? This is a wrong choice. You do not need to believe the media. Simply listen and reserve judgment, because you will not be able to judge the truth till you have heard both sides of the argument. Court cases have two sides, presenting a multitude of arguments, which too often crystallize down to one point of law, a binary choice, when there may be a multitude of factors to consider.

This binary thinking enters discussion and debate. Debate is often for or against a motion, or proposal. Binary again. No wonder people think in binary terms when such thinking is all around us.

If you do not subscribe to one version of events, too often it is assumed that you subscribe to the other “supposed binary” version of events. The idea that you might reserve judgment does not seem to occur to protagonists, who want you to agree with them, suggesting that they themselves are not in the habit of reserving judgment. In other words they are judgmental, although they have never been trained in law, evidence, impartial judgment, etc. This happens in many employment situations and in the ruinous judgments in family courts and children’s hearings, relying on the prejudicial opinions of those social workers who write judgmental reports without any legal training.

With so many versions of events and so many people wanting you to subscribe to their version of events, for or against, who can you trust?

Wise king Solomon wrote in his book of Proverbs: “Confidence in an unfaithful man in a time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint” Pro 25:19. It will prove to be a painful experience.

So who can you trust? You have a problem if you are not a Christian. The Bible tells you to trust God, and Jesus explains the subject to us in the Bible. If you have not done so, it is time to read the Bible and to learn about Jesus Christ. Here is a brief outline of His life from the shortest Gospel. There are more details about His spiritual teaching in the Gospel by John, and click here for a summary in one page of the whole New Testament.

Will you do so, or have you already formed your judgment? Will you not reserve judgment at least until you have read something of the world’s Best Seller? – and you can read it for free!