GREAT THINGS ENTERPRISE
CLAUDE BLACK
Mark 5:39
Stubborn Facts
There is a proverbial expression that says, “Don’t confuse me with facts; my mind is made up.” The phrase is often used to satirize or criticize individuals who are unwilling to change their opinions despite evidence to the contrary.
In the 17th century, church dogma held that the Earth was the center of the universe, citing Aristotle to support this opinion. Aristotle taught that the Earth was stationary and located at the center of the universe. Galileo, however, used an improved device, the telescope, which allowed him to peer beyond human sight, and he saw evidence that planets orbited the sun. Refusing to change its opinion, though, the Roman Catholic Church condemned Galileo in 1633. Don’t confuse dogmatists with facts; their dogma stands.
Contemporary anti-vaxxers, most non-scientists, continue to hold that vaccines cause autism despite numerous large-scale studies that show no link between vaccines and autism. Don’t confuse conspirators with facts; their minds are made up.
Some studies show that alcohol is carcinogenic, but the alcohol industry pooh-poohs the information and continues to produce mega-gallons of the brew, and customers continue to drink on—Don’t confuse drinkers with facts; their thirst drives on.
The Flat Earth Society, with headquarters in Knoxville, Tennessee, holds firmly to the belief that the Earth is flat. Reportedly, when some Flat Earthers saw pictures from Explorer 6 in 1959 of the round Earth in space, they replied, “Isn’t it interesting how distance distorts perspective?” Don’t confuse a Flat Earther with facts; his mind is made up.
In Capernaum, Jesus, his three disciples, and the synagogue ruler approached the ruler’s house to pray for his very ill daughter. “And entering, he [Jesus] said to them, ‘Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.’ And they laughed at him.” (Mark 5:39-40a) These professional mourners knew death when they saw it, so when someone gave them another interpretation, confused them with a fact, they scorned him, their minds were made up.
Writers interpret Mark’s story variously, but it’s a classic example of people refusing to be confused by a fact, because their minds were made up—a cautionary tale of continuing relevance.
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