Disclaimer: In this post, I’m exercising my more arrogant voice to practice different writing styles. This topic is definitely far more nuanced than what I can hope to convey in 440 words. Please enjoy.

There is no question that the modern age provides abundant means of learning. Whether it’s traditional schooling, online courses, books or podcasts, the resources available to find information these days is unprecedented. A simple Google search will tell you the most bizarre facts like the latin name of a hedgehog and online courses have enabled great opportunities to learn science, math, or literature. The benefits this can bring to society is obvious.

But there is a problem. This abundance of information can lead people to believe they are experts in whatever they Googled that day. When you get ill, you can suddenly look up your symptoms on WebMD and treat yourself rather than consult a GP. When you come across a pseudo-scientific topic, you can suddenly find intelligent-sounding defences for dubious ideas rather than consult an expert.  

People who do this are called armchair scientists – those who read one or two articles from a questionable source, jump on Reddit for half an hour and use this to inform their opinion about a topic. And so, while technology is creating a utopia of knowledge, it is simultaneously creating a dystopia of ignorance towards experts. As social psychologist Aleks Krotoski wrote in The Guardian:

There is no doubt that the wealth of health information online has contributed to a more informed public, but this is an area in which I believe the expertise of the professional should not be undermined by the leveling power of the web.

This notion can be extended beyond the realms of science and into the spiritual. The recent rise of armchair theologians has raised questions about how Christianity is being practiced in the digital age. It can be easy for new or exploring Christians to find contrasting opinions online about biblical teachings and give them the same weight, despite significant differences in hermeneutical factors and theological context. With such clever-sounding pieces of biblical interpretation, where is the need for reading the Bible?

What to do?

Perhaps the solution to this armchair dilemma requires action on both the experts and the viewers.

To the experts: Honesty and simplicity when conducting research are essential for increasing the literacy of the general public. Dishonest and convoluted pieces of literature do nothing but harm one’s perceptions on a topic.

And to the viewers: Exercising critical thought is essential in an age of fake news and unequal opinions. It is easy to look at the wealth of information out there and believe that you can become an expert in anything. Understanding that there are many things out there that we don’t know – and may never know – is completely fine.