How to Assess an Article That Overwhelms You

Alan Shlemon opens with a confession: he regularly encounters articles hostile to his convictions that leave him feeling overwhelmed. The article that prompted this episode argued that Christianity allows for—and in some cases even requires—abortion. Shlemon is pro-life, and the piece was long, heavily cited, and professionally published. That aura of credibility made it feel intimidating. But rather than panic or make a snap judgment, he applies three steps he has taught for years at Stand to Reason. The steps are simple, but the psychology behind them matters: they are designed to interrupt the emotional response of feeling outmatched and replace it with a structured analytical process.

Slow Down and Resist the Urgency

The first step is the most basic and the easiest to skip: slow down. When an article feels authoritative—long, published, professionally written—the natural impulse is to either accept it or reject it quickly. Shlemon argues that neither response is useful. Slowing down means taking a deep breath, resisting the urge to react, and giving yourself permission to think. This step is not about analysis yet. It is about creating the mental space to do analysis. The author might be right, or might be wrong, but you will not find out by rushing. The next two steps are what you actually do with that slower pace.