Controversy

Controversy is a state of prolonged public dispute or debate usually concerning a matter of opinion. The term originates circa 1384 from Latin controversia, as a composite of controversus - "turned in an opposite direction," from contra - "against" - and vertere - to turn, or versus (see verse), hence, "to turn against."

Benford's law of controversy, as expressed by science-fiction author Gregory Benford in 1980, states: "Passion is inversely proportional to the amount of real (true) information available." In other words, the more untruths the more controversy there is, and the more truths the less controversy there is.

A controversy is usually the result of either ignorance (lack of sufficient true information), misinformation, misunderstandings, half-truths, distortions, bias or prejudice, deliberate lies or fabrications (disinformation), opposed underlying motives or purposes (sometimes masked or hidden), or a combination of these factors.

There is often controversy about a significantly different new idea, subject, group or person for a period of time, until honest direct examination of sufficient factual evidence results in widespread agreement on the truths of the matter. Examples: disease is often caused by bacteria or viruses, rather than evil spirits or bad blood; blood is circulated around the body, rather than ebbing and flowing; Earth revolves around the sun, rather than being the center of the universe; Earth is a sphere, rather than flat.

Religion today is considered controversial by many atheists and non-theists around the world.