I think God created teenage rebellion to keep humanity from ever being too certain about anything. Most humans believe they have a balanced or appropriate view of existence. In other words, we think we’re mostly right. Perpetually thinking you’re mostly wrong is a difficult way to exist.
Consequently, we develop a certitude about our social, political, cultural, and spiritual convictions. Individuals who think differently from us are viewed as having the wrong perspective. They are either naive, misinformed, delusional, ignorant, or evil.
From our vantage point, their radically different view of existence cannot be based on a better understanding of truth. If they’re right, then we’re wrong. As previously mentioned, it’s difficult for any person to embrace an existence where they are mostly wrong. It’s just not logical!
So we blog, email, editorialize, start churches, run political parties, and champion our right causes. Some of us are motivated by a strong passion that if we were just given a platform to communicate our truth, we could change the path of the ignorant. We could lead the wayward multitudes into the truth.
We even lament the conspiracies that keep us from communicating the truth. We decry the controlling biases of our leaders, educators, and institutions. We blame the media, or the government, or the church, or anyone else we believe to be censoring the truth. If only we had a voice to speak. If only we had a platform to proclaim our truth.
Of course, every parent has a platform to communicate truth. It’s called parenting. Ironically, our truth frequently does not even translate to our children. Although children see, hear, and experience the best of their parents’ truth, they frequently reject that truth for a different way.
So many parents don’t just raise children, they raise political and spiritual adversaries. Even so, we still shout at the other side for their bull headed arrogance. We heckle those in the wrong. We name call and deride our ignorant and delusional opponents.
“Why can’t they see the truth!” And our children watch us while they plan their secret rebellions. Ready to topple every tower we build. Don’t worry, it won’t be our fault, we’ll blame society for kidnapping the hearts and minds of our children. We certainly won’t blame ourselves.
Douglas Bursch is the author of Posting Peace: Why Social Media Divides Us and What We Can Do About It. He also hosts The Fairly Spiritual Show podcast.