Cynicism

Cynicism, Virtue or Vice?

By Ed Vasicek

I am not cynical by nature, but I do display sarcastic attitudes about a few subjects, one of which is modern art.   Oh, I can enjoy impressionistic art, but blobs of paint, no sir.  Some paintings are probably created in this manner: the artist paints a beautiful scene on a canvas, wipes off the paint with a rag, and sells the rag to the museum.  

Before readers (who happen to be modern artists) dowse me with over-ripe tomatoes and bug-infested eggplants, might I remind you that my contempt for modern art is within my artistic license as a writer?  Besides, if I wrote as you painted, no one would understand my columns.   But then again, maybe I AM a modern artist!  (Disclaimer: if you are an abstract artist, I might be kidding; if you are not a modern artist, ignore this disclaimer).

Although I am negative about abstract art and admit to a few other hot buttons, and despite the fact I like to fool around in my writings, I am not characteristically cynical.    I could be.  After 22 years of pastoral work-involved in the lives of hundreds of people--I have encountered much within human nature about which to be cynical.   I am reminded of the clergyman whose favorite verse was Jeremiah 17:9, "The heart is deceitful, and desperately wicked."    Although I agree with the above diagnosis, there is more to humanity than just the negative.  In my dealings with people, I have also discovered sincerity and goodwill.  Because I believe humans are two-sided, my pathway steers clear from both the swampland of Pollyanna-like denial and the quicksand of cynicism.  But back to our subject.

What is this leprosy called cynicism, anyway?  My Thesaurus offers these terms: sarcastic, pessimistic, and skeptical.  Dr. Phil Toon writes, "...cynicism is an attitude of contempt and distrust of human nature and motivation.   It can exist...about particular matters, or it can exist as a highly pessimistic attitude and approach to life in general."  Cynicism as a philosophy of life is bad news.

Cynics routinely exaggerate selected truths to the exclusion of others.  They view people or organizations as wholly evil or wholly good and seem incapable of doing otherwise.   Their favorite political viewpoint, belief system, or baseball team is virtually flawless, while opposing groups are without any virtue at all.  Their emotions prevent a sincere attempt at objectivity.  They simply cannot see things from other perspective because they are skeptical that other reasonable perspectives exist.

Cynics cry out against problems and injustice but rarely DO anything about it.    Like the king of all cynics, Karl Marx, they claim to be champions for the underdogs but never actually HELP the downtrodden themselves.  Marx, for example, never set foot in a factory. Cynics call attention to problems but possess no sense of responsibility to pitch-in and actually better society. 

Cynicism kills relationships.   It fosters a punishing sarcasm, name-calling, and contempt; cynics are therefore destined to live frustrating lives with few true friends or satisfying relationships.   Some may beat the odds and find a level of happiness; in my observation, most do not.  Take marriage, for example.  In their best-selling book, "Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts," Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott write, "When contempt appears, it overwhelms the marriage and blots out every positive feeling partners have for each other.   Some of the most common expressions of contempt are name-calling, hostile humor, and mockery.   And once they have entered a home, the marriage goes from bad to worse."

Because cynics rarely give of themselves to help others but are quick to offer biting remarks, they bring misery upon themselves and that, in turn, reinforces their cynicism.    The cynic is truly his own worst enemy.

So if you struggle with cynicism, view it as a vice, not a virtue.  Forget society and start helping individuals; associate with others who do the same.  Get involved in a church, relief organization, or service club.   If you are married, take the advice of Howard Hendricks,  "Drop the sarcasm; you'll never miss it."