A cynic, to me, is someone who habitually sees the worst in others and ignores the good.  Negative cynicism distorts the truth and calls it accurate observation.  People are a mixture of good and bad.  Organized religion, politicians, businessmen, believers in evolution/creation, the government, Muslims, Jews, Baptists, Catholics, “Emergents” all these people/things have good and bad points.  A cynic, in my mind, is someone refuses to see the good in others and can only criticize.  Sometimes cynicism is accurate, but when somebody can only be cynical about a certain topic, then it is often the case that the cynicism expressed tends to be extreme and distorted views of reality, instead of accurate observation.

MB

Nope, I really don’t have a cynical view of you.  Just disagree w/ your take on stuff sometimes.  But I still come to read because you are sometimes insightful.  And sometimes funny.

There is a fine line to walk when delivering (and interpreting) something cynical and something that is an accurate observation. And many times, cynically delivered or not, the truth hurts.

And in the end, all the folks that peg you (or anyone) as a cynic probably don’t know you…so you’re right, that points the finger back at them by distrusting someone else’s motives and such.

I believe the difference between an accurate but unpleasant observation and cynicism is prejudice.

According to one of those dictionary things.

Uhhhh, no.  But if that’s not a cynical view of me, I don’t know a thing about cynicism.

I wrote this post because the word “cynic” gets thrown around a lot.  By me as well. Yes, I was called a cynic in the comments of the Fireproof post but that simply got me thinking…not accusing. You see, I don’t recall calling anyone I agreed with a cynic.  That’s convenient. That got me thinking.  And that’s all that’s behind this post, Geneva.  Wish you’d have given me the same benefit of the doubt that you’d like me to give Fireproof.  But I understand, the way some are interpreting that post, probably because of the way it was written, why you didn’t.  No harm.

I also believe that you are wrong in your assumption that this film was made solely to reach sinners and tell them about Jesus-y stuff.

That’s not an assumption, actually.  Read the media coverage of this film and statements from the folks making it.  This church is using film as means of evangelism.  I’ve not attacked them for that or for the message of this film either.  I’m not assuming a thing about this church’s motivations.  They’ve bravely stated them outright.  And the film does talk about Jesus-y stuff, like, um, Jesus.

THIS world is “wearing out like a garment”, it’s falling apart, we’re all gonna die, etc.

But The Kingdom, that’s a different issue.

The Kingdom brings hope beyond THIS world.

So, yeah when looking at this world cynicism is an “accurate observation”.

But, for the citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven, cynicism is tunnel-vision, short-sightedness, just a small part of the bigger, better story.

if it’s just based on an opinion or preference in taste…..then it’s moot to begin with.

which, of course, is why “accurate observations” about “art” are impossible.

continue on. 

An accurate observation should be just that – accurate, irrespective of the emotional reaction that observation will elicit.  Accurate observations aren’t necessarily unpleasant.  At least not from every point of view.  But cynicism implies that accuracy, or objectivity, if you will, has been chucked aside in favor of an already-arrived-at opinion.  Cynicism is a way of approaching observations irrespective of the accurate facts surrounding whatever it is that’s being observed.  Someone incapable of or unwilling to set aside their own preconceptions about something would naturally assume the same about someone making an observation they didn’t like or agree with.