It may seem odd, coming from someone whose primary occupation is preaching, but I've always resisted attempts from others who seek to tell me what to think, believe or feel. It is for this reason that I find of all the noxious effects of television the most offensive to be the laugh-track. It never ceases to amaze me that the producers of the pap that passes for humor on most tv shows haven't the confidence in their own material to let it stand on its own merit. The laugh-track is vivid evidence of how Hollywood understands its viewing public...as a nation of nincompoops incapable of even deciding for itself what is funny and what is not.

This mindset is, of course, not limited to television comedy producers. It is ingrained into the very fabric of our society. Politicians, publicists, P.T.A.'s and yes, preachers...all are often convinced that what they think everyone else must think as well. If it is right for me then it must be right for you.

The danger of such thinking is obvious. It creates a world where conformism is rewarded and diversity is denied, where creativity is seen as the enemy and uniformity as the ideal. In a word, it makes us lazy. Of all the evils that lurk out there, surely one of the most dangerous is lazy thinking.

Lazy thinking is an abdication of power. It is what allows demagogues to gain control and evil to reign. Every time we decide to allow someone or something to do our thinking for us, we not only lose some of our freedom, we take a step closer to tyranny. The ancient story of the emperor who had no clothes was a masterful way of teaching the populace the importance of critical thinking. Just because everyone else says it's so doesn't make it so.

Critical thinkers are often not rewarded for their contributions. They more often are called names. Heretic, radical, subversive are just some of the epithets that are the honorariums of the honest. It can be very lonely not letting a laugh-track do your laughing for you.

Conformity is the domain of the adolescent mind. With so many changes occurring to teenagers, it is understandable that they seek comfort in behaving and thinking like everybody else. This accounts for the humorous fads of fashion that can include nose-rings, baggy pants and insipid music. This herd-mentality fuels much of our economy and for that, I suppose, we should be somewhat grateful but it remains decidedly adolescent. A writer I very much admire once wrote, "When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child but when I became a man, I gave up childish things." Too many of us, it appears, have failed to give up some of our childish ways.

In his new book, Living Faith, former President Jimmy Carter writes, "We can't become obsessed with the belief that we have a special ordination from God to interpret the Scriptures and to consider anyone who disagreed with us wrong and inferior." The danger of fundamentalism, Christian or any other, is this conviction of being absolutely right. It is what fuels the fire of hatred and intolerance that seems to be burning so mightily in so many places today. Lazy thinkers have always found it easier to burn people at the stake rather than engage in open, critical and self-critical dialogue.

Speaking of books, there is one out now (and selling very well) that purports to be a direct revelation from God. Talk about denying diversity! Who can argue with the Almighty? This author has the ultimate authority...or so he claims. But there is a rich religious tradition, both within scriptures and without, of arguing with God. The God who shapes Judeo-Christian tradition is one open to dialogue, eager for debate, welcoming of diversity. Indeed, in the Bible, God even changes God's mind on occasion. Would that we might be as open.

So, the next time you hear the offending sounds of canned laughter let it be a clarion call to you, a resounding reminder of the dangers of letting others do our thinking for us. Perhaps you might emulate that wonderful scene from the movie "Network" where tv commentator Peter Finch implores us all to lean out the window and scream, "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!" The kids might think you've finally flipped out but I am convinced it will do us all a world of good.

Of course, that's only my opinion.