While we are often told to “trust the experts,” many tend to view them with skepticism – especially if they are government bureaucrats. This cynicism toward “experts”/authorities is growing with every generation.
Chalk this up to secularization and the resulting devaluing of truth.
In a relativistic world where we all have different “truths,” we are increasingly tempted to say whatever gets us “good results.”
This is true for pastors who capitulate to culture rather than stand firm on unpopular truths, in order to have a “voice with the world” (and coincidentally, a bigger church) and politicians who deceive to accomplish what they think is best for society. There are also many lies being told for filthy lucre.
I’m not saying all authority is bad and shouldn’t be trusted. Good authorities are a blessing. But we have been told falsehoods by “experts” so often it is hard to not be cynical.
Consider two break-through stories that have come out recently.
The first is a comprehensive study published in Molecular Psychiatry (nature.com/articles/s41380-022-01661-0) shows low serotonin doesn’t cause depression. The concept that depression is caused by chemical imbalances in the brain has been presented as gospel truth for over 30 years! There was always a small minority who argued it wasn’t true – because if it was, then doctors could measure your serotonin levels before they prescribed SSRI antidepressants.
But the majority of us believed it; about 88 percent of Americans believe it. And according to the CDC, over 13 percent of adult Americans used antidepressants in 2015-18 (dealing with all the side effects).
To be clear, the study isn’t saying there aren’t physical issues that affect depression, but serotonin levels aren’t one of them (neither the study nor this column is encouraging anyone to get off antidepressants without talking to their doctor).
When we feel depressed, good counselors will first check our sleep schedule, diet and exercise habits, etc. But too often, we prefer a simple fix (a pill) for our problems, rather than doing the hard work.
Many doctors and psychiatrists are coming out now to say that this study isn’t revealing anything new. They say “experts” have known for a long time that depression isn’t caused by low serotonin.
Then there is the shocking story that a prominent 2006 study on Alzheimer’s was manipulated to the point of possibly being fraudulent (science.org/content/article/potential-fabrication-research-images-threatens-key-theory-alzheimers-disease). Many scientists are saying the study was so influential that it probably sent the development of treating Alzheimer’s back a decade or more.
Matt Schrag – the homeschooled whistleblower who uncovered the doctored images in the study – sent his concerns to the NIH in January, 2022. In May, NIH gave the “expert” who allegedly falsified the images a coveted research grant ($764,792, just in 2022).
The encouraging thing is that even in a culture of lies; the truth will come out eventually.
In other news – some would say related – President Biden had COVID-19 for the second time in a week. Prayers for a full recovery.
Scott Kamps writes a bi-weekly column for The Graham Star. He can be reached via email, thestableguy@frontier.com.