Along The Way –
Reductionism and its effects on human nature?
(Written by
Kevin A. Hall 08.25.17)
Whenever we try to explain away something that is true by
dismissing or diminishing its existence, we are practicing Reductionism.
Reductionism is defined as a means of “reducing a phenomenon from a higher or
more complex level of reality to a lower, simpler, less complex level” (45). A
main strategy of pushing this idea is to discredit that phenomenon. Reductionism
happens every day all around us.
We may be practicing it in some form and not
realize it. When people cannot explain something, they use the “debunk or discredit
strategy”. We “put things in a box and dismiss it” (45), when things are
difficult or we are opposed to it.
I will go as far as to say this plays out every day in the
battle of God against the liberals. First, God is dismissed (there is no God [ultimate
reality]; hence no one to give account to). Now that we no longer have the
highest form of deity, we must replace Him with something else. We cannot make
another God; therefore, we move to create other gods. The first one is the idea
that man is his own god (a lower reality). Next, we make up gods, as many as we
can imagine; we worship them, we create religions around these gods, we create
philosophies to support our beliefs, our media and institutions are filled with
people who can support and create stories to support these positions, and
before you know it our lies become truths. Don’t forget, we have also made it
clear “there is no such thing as absolute truth”.
