His bike has been stolen, he mourns. Next day he says, “we will find it, the guy says it will be around the hotel.” Which guy? He doesn’t call him oracle, but means. Superstition at an elevated level. My first (body) reaction is adrenaline up. He senses it, even 4000 km far, in India. He goes into defensive mode: “Years ago my father’s auto was stolen and the guy was able to tell where would we find it. We found it.”

Ops. How can I fend off this one? I have to come up with theories like: he was the thief, or he knew about it. Because I am right, of course.

Putting aside the angry “of course, I am right” is not easy. Especially when you come up with reasons like: because I am educated, you are not, so I know better. Or I am older, so I know better.

But it takes a whole day to give in.

Critical thinking is the ability to reflect on my own way of thinking, to consider, if I am really right or just deceive myself. I can be confident and tell, of course I am right, but if it is not true I do a lot of harm to myself. Lack of critical thinking is a short-term thinking, it prevents to adapt to the changing reality.

Even if I am right, I have to check if really this is the case and I also have to convince him that he is wrong.  After all 1.3 billion people believe in oracles and priests and holy men in India.

So I have a checklist to test myself.

• Do you assume that your group (family, nation, religion, etc.) is correct?

Absolutely, I am talking in the name of science and objective facts.

• Are you sure you have all the information?

Well, I don’t think. I have a lot of questions waiting for answers. For example how these holy men operate, where do they get their information.

• What components can be true in the opposing opinion?

Errr.... something must be true about it, otherwise this many people wouldn’t believe it. I should know what is the percentage of success they operate with. They might be just lucky with guesses.

• Are you free from prejudice/generalization?

Not at all, but keep trying.

• Do you have evidence, pro or con?

No. Maybe I would need observation, or statistics, or more stories, to prove or refute.

• What makes you upset about the opposing opinion?

I think it is exploitation of brainwashed, uneducated masses, making fool of them.

• Can you find good elements in the opposing opinion?

On the other hand it might give them solace and hope.

• Do you think that opposing can be dangerous?

It can be dangerous in India, not for me. For example if he says, it is crap, his family/friends would condemn him.

• Do you feel uncomfortable to recognise that you are not 100% right?

Yes, and I try to overcome it. I am not 100% right to say it is rubbish, because I didn’t examine the facts in details.

• Are you happy to correct mistakes you make?

No, but I have to.

• Are you happier to correct mistakes other people make?

Yep, of course. I am smart.

Conclusion: I am going to India, I want to see these oracles working. Maybe they have some tricks I can learn.

P.S.: The bike hasn’t turned up at the hotel yet.