The Cynics Are Alright

I’ve seen this thing now (especially in religious circles) where someone deconstructs or tears down, or expresses some kind of language around leaving some kind of system never to return again and the response - usually from those in the system - is something along the lines of “beware of cynics”. They go on about how anyone can tear down something and it’s easy to be cynical and point out flaws but it’s hard to build toward something more beautiful and better.

I do agree. To a point.

I also think there are rotten systems. There are evil belief systems. There are pointless rituals. And to simply respond with “anyone can tear something down” a) isnt’ true - lots of people allow unjust, unequal, and straight up bad system to keep going all the time and b) sometimes tearing down a system IS the best way toward more beautiful and better.

So… like everything in life it’s not a black and white line but a very colorful spectrum. But, just because you are completely against something doesn’t make you a cynic. And just because you are still in something and someone calls out the thing you are in, responding with “anyone can tear down and be a cynic” does not mean you’re building walls on a good foundation, it just means you’re building walls.