Cynics & the gullible...

[Jack Shephard]

This is a small working theory I have been pondering a while. I figured I will bring it to some of the wisest people I know, in a sense. Here is the thought...

Are today's adult cynics, or cynical people in general, yesterday's gullible children? Prior to a response consider topics like friendship, love, religion & other social things.

It is my opinion, while it might not be a broad brush type thing, that many of the cynical people that I know, myself included, are that way now but were also a bit gullible when they were younger. We were gullible when it came to friendships, love, religion - just to name a few.

What do you all think?

[preacher clk]

Very likely we were and are. Each generation goes the same
Yet more.

[Jack Shephard]

Preacher CLK,

I agree. I wonder if that is just the "norm" for everyone

[RandyWayne]

I don't believe it is about being gullible at an early age so much as feeling angry at yourself for letting yourself be taken. Now they are not exactly the same thing in that someone can be an overall NON-gullible type person yet still let themselves be fooled by something or someone. THESE are the ones most likely to be upset that they let it happen.

[endtimer]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

I don't believe it is about being gullible at an early age so much as feeling angry at yourself for letting yourself be taken. Now they are not exactly the same thing in that someone can be an overall NON-gullible type person yet still let themselves be fooled by something or someone. THESE are the ones most likely to be upset that they let it happen.

Interesting thoughts. I have pondered this thing with cynics often as I am part of the very cynical generation X. Many cynics, myself included, question the institutions that duped our parents and generations before them. One observation I've made with my cynical friends and family members is that some the most cynical ones try to come off as the smartest guy in the room or the lone voice of reason in nearly every conversation. Maybe this is a defensive measure taken to keep from being fooled again. This is in no way a broad brushed attempt to paint all cynics every where in a bad light. Just telling my experience.

[Jack Shephard]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

I don't believe it is about being gullible at an early age so much as feeling angry at yourself for letting yourself be taken. Now they are not exactly the same thing in that someone can be an overall NON-gullible type person yet still let themselves be fooled by something or someone. THESE are the ones most likely to be upset that they let it happen.

RW, I guess it's not so much about ages but more so immaturity versus maturity. Like... aren't cynics usually those that have been "sold" something & end up with "nothing" or at least end up with something "less" than they were promised in a sense?

[AreYouReady?]

I think people become cynics because other people, entities, through friendship, love whatever the reason gain our trust, then betray us breaking that trust.

[Jack Shephard]

Originally Posted by AreYouReady?

I think people become cynics because other people, entities, through friendship, love whatever the reason gain our trust, then betray us breaking that trust.

AYR, very well said. This is sort of the thrust I was attempting to make.

I have experienced things recently, in the past year or less I will say, that have caused me to become VERY cynical about things. I am not a complete cynic, but I am not all faith all the time either. I have been hurt by friends, betrayed by people that claimed to have deep love for me, not all of which were of a romantic nature though. I am very cynical when it comes to church & the leaders of certain churches. I don't question the motives of ALL churches or ALL leaders either.

[AreYouReady?]

Cynicism is more like bad memories of what people and entities have done to you. It is a protection, sort of like a suit of armor we put on when we go out into this world to live our lives. We do not like how we felt when we realized we were being taken advantage of. So instead of putting on one of the many masks that all people wear in public, we who have cynicism put on the whole body wear.

By nature, humans want to trust another human being, or a system, a product. We've been taught that people in general are good. We've been taught that our churches, government, schools etc are benevolent to us and have only our best interests at heart.

We go to church thinking that our spiritual needs will be met as our soul desires to have a relationship with God. Our essence desires to have the Holy Spirit indwelling within us. We want to please our Creator.

I believe that we have an all knowing, all powerful God who sometimes allows things to happen to us to show us that we rely on the temporal way too much. When we look for answers in the spiritual realm, we run into the shelter of a church system where we think everything is going to turn out alright.

But nobody tells us that sometimes church systems are just as ruthless as the world. By the time we realize we've been hurt or betrayed, it destroys our trust in people and in earthly systems whether they be temporal or pseudo-spiritual.

When everyone and everything fails us in life and we feel shattered, destroyed, betrayed by the very things that we thought we could count on, we are then wide open to allow Christ to come into our life and work within us.

I happen to believe, because I've been there and done all that, that once the barriers (to Christ) are broken down, the illusions are shattered, it leaves us wide open to cast all else aside and pray to God telling Him that there is nothing left here (in the temporal) for me to count on. The only thing now is His light shining in the darkness of betrayal that we experienced.

We instantly know that we can trust God and look past all others because nobody can be a go between you and your Savior. It's just you and God.

Matthew 11:28-30
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Think about what Christ is saying to us. Other men bind heavy burdens upon us, but Christ says if we yoke ourselves to Him, we will find rest.

[Jack Shephard]

Originally Posted by AreYouReady?

Cynicism is more like bad memories of what people and entities have done to you. It is a protection, sort of like a suit of armor we put on when we go out into this world to live our lives. We do not like how we felt when we realized we were being taken advantage of. So instead of putting on one of the many masks that all people wear in public, we who have cynicism put on the whole body wear.

By nature, humans want to trust another human being, or a system, a product. We've been taught that people in general are good. We've been taught that our churches, government, schools etc are benevolent to us and have only our best interests at heart.

We go to church thinking that our spiritual needs will be met as our soul desires to have a relationship with God. Our essence desires to have the Holy Spirit indwelling within us. We want to please our Creator.

I believe that we have an all knowing, all powerful God who sometimes allows things to happen to us to show us that we rely on the temporal way too much. When we look for answers in the spiritual realm, we run into the shelter of a church system where we think everything is going to turn out alright.

But nobody tells us that sometimes church systems are just as ruthless as the world. By the time we realize we've been hurt or betrayed, it destroys our trust in people and in earthly systems whether they be temporal or pseudo-spiritual.

When everyone and everything fails us in life and we feel shattered, destroyed, betrayed by the very things that we thought we could count on, we are then wide open to allow Christ to come into our life and work within us.

I happen to believe, because I've been there and done all that, that once the barriers (to Christ) are broken down, the illusions are shattered, it leaves us wide open to cast all else aside and pray to God telling Him that there is nothing left here (in the temporal) for me to count on. The only thing now is His light shining in the darkness of betrayal that we experienced.

We instantly know that we can trust God and look past all others because nobody can be a go between you and your Savior. It's just you and God.

Matthew 11:28-30
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Think about what Christ is saying to us. Other men bind heavy burdens upon us, but Christ says if we yoke ourselves to Him, we will find rest.

Wow, this is DEEP. I appreciate you taking the time it took to write this. I really do.

I have been hurt by others for sure, but I think I have hurt myself too. There is one situation in my life that I just cannot seem to get over... Well two if I am being completely honest. These two were both where others did something to me. I am not naive and I am almost certain I have hurt others too and I really don't like that I might have, but I have asked God to allow me enough grace to be able to make it right.

I am resloved to the fact that I have questions that will never be answered, but that doesn't stop me from asking them.