So is the lizard inside or outside? Can you tell? Do you have enough information based on what you can see here? If I tell you, do you know me well enough to have confidence in what I tell you?
Or, will your belief be based on what you want the answer to be? On what you assume the answer should be to support your belief system?
Do you really even want to know? Or is it more convenient to assume that I’m either truthful or lying based on what you want the answer to be?
Several times in the past week I’ve seen responses to news stories, to actual facts, that assumed things the writer of the response had no way of knowing if they were true or not. Case in point: Kansas City Chiefs quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, and his long-time girlfriend and fiancé, Brittany Matthews, announced they are expecting a child together. Fact. The trolls came out of the woodwork accusing her of all sorts of things related to gold digging and just in it for his money and on and on. None of these trolls know her or him personally. They have no insider scoop. They assumed.
Similar kind of “news” stories related to the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. The amount of fear-mongering related to “what will happen” if she is approved has been astonishing and if nothing else, ought to mandate the re-introduction of civics into our high school curriculums. Nothing lines up in terms of true knowledge either about Ms. Barrett or with what the Supreme Court actually does. Regardless of what you may or may not think about the nomination and/or approval process, at least use the knowledge available. Don’t assume.
Speculation and fear-mongering today is no less dangerous than it was when the Pharisees went after Jesus. It is all aimed at destroying and stealing credibility, careers, joy, and security. The sin of assumption: outsiders acting as insiders since 33 AD (at least).
By the way, the lizard is inside the porch.
Just Sayin' 