The reality of social construction/destruction

One of the most impactful ideas in sociology is the claim that our reality is socially constructed. This means our sense of reality is shaped by those we interact with and the things we encounter. Through ongoing communication with friends, family, media, and societal institutions, people create, maintain, and modify how they understand the world. Over time, these understandings become so ingrained that individuals treat them as natural and unquestionable truths. Recognizing this process is one way we can move forward constructively in this country.

On Encounters, Emotions, and Evaluations

I grew up in a Christian home where everyone around me believed the world was created by God as described in the Bible and that God’s son came to Earth and sacrificed himself so that I and other humans could continue existing. This was the reality constructed for me.

I can still remember my reaction to hearing that some people do not believe in God. As a young adult, I started to encounter non-believers (non-believer here being anyone who doesn’t believe in the Christian God). I use encounter purposefully — it’s the best description of what happened. I was the functional equivalent of some intrepid explorer finally clamoring his way up a hill, pulling out his canteen to sip some water, wiping the sweat…