Conventional Wisdom

The economist, John Kenneth Galbraith, is credited (1958 – The Affluent Society) with coining the phrase, "conventional wisdom." While we think CW is a good thing and back by lots of expert data, he meant it's connotation as negative. He said, "We associate truth with convenience....with what most closely accords with self-interest and personal well being or promises avoid awkward effort or unwelcome dislocation of life. We find highly acceptable what contributes most to self esteem."

 

In other words, CW is often cited as a way to make us feel better about ourselves and to avoid painful situations. We have conventional wisdom in order to fool ourselves that everything is okay, that we are really doing enough or engaged, and that no difficult changes are in order.

 

CW in the 1950's had doctors saying that cigarette smoking was not harmful to our health. They even appeared in ads.  CW can lead us to become inert, not open to new ideas (We don't have to adopt all new ideas but openness can often be an avenue to new life. Remember, CW once said the earth was flat.) If we believe CW that says all incumbents lose elections, we may not vote. Despite what we believe, people we know kill and abduct us far more than strangers do.

 

Modern Day Spiritual Conventional Wisdom has us believe that we are just fine and need only a minor tune up that will not truly interfere I with life as we know it. Listen to God.

 

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.                   1 John 1:8 (NIV)

 

Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."             John 3:3 (NIV)

 

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.              Mathew 16:25 (NIV)

 

³"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
      for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
 ⁴Blessed are those who mourn,
      for they will be comforted.
 ⁵Blessed are the meek,
      for they will inherit the earth.
 ⁶Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
      for they will be filled.
 ⁷Blessed are the merciful,
      for they will be shown mercy.
 ⁸Blessed are the pure in heart,
      for they will see God.
 ⁹Blessed are the peacemakers,
      for they will be called sons of God.
 ¹⁰Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
      for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  ¹¹"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.                Matthew 5:3-11 (NIV)