What dimension of a person do you think would be the most offensive to insult? I’m sure that you do not have to think long to come up with a decent list of things: sex, race, economic status, disability, appearance. Some of you might even say that it depends on the person, their personal sensitivities and/or their history of pain.

While I might agree with all of this, I want to make the case that it is something else entirely. Enter: the ad hominem abusive argument. Its very nature is dehumanizing because it focuses in on attacking the person and does not even address the argument itself. From a psychological standpoint, it is the insult behind the insult that really breaks us. Think about it for a minute. What was it about the insult to your sex, race, or disability that really got to you?

In our quest to bring ‘peace’ and ‘love’ to individuals, societies and nations, we have created a culture where people’s opinions are more important than truth. Those of us who once held to the truth have given into the onslaught of relativism, post-modernity and individualism. We have unwittingly accepted that catering to the needs and divergent worldviews (wrong or not) of others is humanity’s chief ambition, forgetting ourselves in the process. Time and knowledge have corroded our thoughts and perceptions.

There is obvious benefit to discussions between ideologically opposed peoples. We are able to see the perspective of another and understand how their mind relates and thinks about the world. We may even decide that their ideas are “superior” to ours, and integrate their thinking on the subject into our own worldview. There is a sincere need to respect, love and have empathy for others with differing opinions. This is not in contention.

What we really need to think about is what Jesus came to this Earth to do.

By: Christian Shahzade & Derek Schoffstall (originally written as a response to an open letter written to our college about racial and ethnic minorities)

We can all agree that the Gordon community has confronted a provocative, potentially transformative discussion surrounding individuals’ ideas about racial and ethnic diversity. However, as a developing conversation, it is imperative to incorporate varying perspectives into our understanding of this topic and its resulting implications. For this reason, it is our intent to demonstrate an alternative approach to the concerns that have been laid out by our friends within the Gordon community. Ultimately, we aim to advocate for a unification of our community that avoids polarization, while embodying Christ-like love and understanding.

The following is an excerpt from a conversation that I overheard while getting a haircut the other day:

Little Girl: I love my Barbie! I bring her everywhere I go.

Hair Dresser: Do you like her blond hair?

Little Girl: I guess so.

Hair Dresser: You are never too old to want to be like Barbie. Every little girl should want to grow up to be and look like her.

The hairdresser’s name is Kate. She is 34 and has two kids of her own. It was difficult to listen to the rest of the conversation because I started to think about America’s beauty culture, and its implications on our society. To be candid, I immediately thought: How can a parent hold such an unhealthy belief and probably instill the same values in her own children? It was obvious that Kate believed what she told the girl, not exclusively from her words, but it was also clear from her towering heels, the superfluous amount of makeup on her face, and her noticeably fake bleach-blond hair. This woman physically reflected her own words. At least she was consistent.