Pioneers

Let us be cautious about criticizing those who make a pioneering effort, but fail to produce results.

People on the cutting edge of discoveries, be they scientific and otherwise, are pioneers. Pioneers are risk takers. Sometimes the risks they take lead to the discovery of wonderful things that benefit all of us, and sometimes their adventures into the unknown produce nothing or worse. Typically, when a pioneering effort fails to produce results, the pioneers bear the burden alone and personally. When they are successful, we all share in the benefits when the risks they take lead to new discoveries.

For this reason, a sympathetic attitude is warranted toward pioneers when they do not produce results. Let's not add insult to the injury.

Often new discoveries are made because people followed their "instincts" or intuition. People who have been successful pioneers in the past and relied on their instincts or intuition to do so, naturally, can be inclined to and have been encouraged to do so again. Having tasted the rewards in the past, they may be even more inclined to do so again (and with even a lesser degree of caution) in the future. This, of course, increases the risk of failure.

To be a pioneer requires courage; it is very personally challenging. Often pioneering efforts involve a series of successes and failures.

There are so many worthwhile things to do in life. Criticizing the pioneers when they appear to be foolishly making a mistake may ultimately turn out to be a very bad reflection on the one who launches the criticism. Criticism of those who believe in the authenticity of The Urantia Book and attempt to support it through scientific advances is just one example of when a cautious approach to criticism is warranted.