Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking

Importance

Principal in understanding the significance of critical thinking is grasping the essence of critical thinking. It entails qualitative analysis of the thought process while simultaneously reasoning towards a conclusion of the issue at hand (Rudinow & Barry, 2008). Thus, the foremost importance is the ability to be rational amidst hysteria and emotional turmoil. The repercussion of this is a qualitative conclusion or decision since through deliberate meta-cognition a person improves the thinking process while increasing the possibility of a correct decision irrespective of panic. Critical thinking is deliberate and facilitates clarity in addition to quality in the reasoning process, a process with numerous implications.

Another vital reason is the ability to prioritize rightly thus making difference between important and urgent. Critical thinking facilitates analysis of all available knowledge and the consequences of all viable options thus assisting the thinker to attach comparative importance to certain elements and facts (Mason, 2008). Consequently, a critical thinker is a good decision maker. Additionally, critical thinking is essential in efficiency and timesaving while performing tasks. This can be attributed to the fact critical thinking consider the timeliest means or approach of attaining a particular goal. Accordingly, critical thinking is essential in occurrences characterized by massive information overhaul such as the global economy and business environment. It facilitates consideration of inherent risks and formulation of appropriate evasive or mitigation strategies.

Critical thinking is indispensable when it comes to fallacy prevention. A critical thinker through intentional meta-cognition is able to make out loopholes in ideologies and arguments due to thorough comparison of presented facts (Sternberg, Roediger, & Halpern, 2007). Moreover, confidence is foreseeable since the thinker is certain of beliefs and attitudes adhered to having been arrived at after intensive as well as qualitative reasoning. Critical thinkers exemplify great communication skills and this are socially favored. Creativity is natured given birthing new ideas requires good interaction of pre-existing ideas. Furthermore, critical thinking is essential in ensuring the generated ideas are applicable to the predicament at hand. Critical thinkers are thus able to distinguish between relevant ideas and those to be discarded or are for different use.

Importance in religion

            Perceptions and approaches to religion require critical thinking given the grievous consequences of misinterpretation. Numerous vices have been justified through misinterpretation and misunderstanding of religion such as wars and property liquidation. As mentioned, critical thinking will guard persons against radicalism and close mindedness that allows religious leaders to take advantage of followers. Additionally, critical thinking allows a person to consider presented ideas consequently fostering understanding and accommodativeness between different faiths.

A crucial application of critical thinking is interpretation of available religious manuscripts to facilitate a correct conclusion. Most religious manuscripts are subdivided and are written over a span of years. Deriving the correct teachings and standards from written texts requires critical correlation as well as analysis (Kay& Francis, 1997). In addition, discarding what is irrelevant to the present society from religion requires critical thinking. This includes instructions in addition to restrictions on women, particular races and even children. Followers of religion will benefit more from reflective thinking of the texts for it grounds them firmer in their faith and are able to argue rationally on their faith.

References

Kay, W. K., & Francis, L. J. (1997). Religion in education. Leominster: Gracewing publishers.

Mason, M. (2008). Critical thinking and learning. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishers.

Rudinow, J., & Barry, V. E. (2008). Invitation to critical thinking. Belmont, Calif: Thomson/ Wadsworth publishers.

Sternberg, R. J., Roediger, H. L., & Halpern, D. F. (2007).Critical thinking in psychology. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.