06-15-2007, 07:13 AM
REASON, KNOWLEDGE, AND WISDOM
(March 9, 1997)
These are the 3 Greatest Gifts we have received from God.
These are also 3 Universal Life Principles.
Solomon -- Prayed for Wisdom above all else.
The Bible addresses Wisdom and Knowledge to be valued above all else.
The Dead Sea Scrolls put high value on knowledge and understanding.
The Koran does the same.
Most scriptures talk of ignorance or the absence of knowledge as being the root of all evil.
The ability to read and write and to receive an education has been a treasured commodity through-out the world.
Most of us take reading and writing for granted, but many of our high school graduates and many older people in the United States cannot read or write today. WHY?
Many of us look at the ability to reason as what separates us from normal animals. Science has taught us that even animals have the ability to reason. What truly sets us apart from the animals?
A common saying that we hear is that some people do not have any "Common Sense". Often we marvel when we see people displaying "Common Sense". This is the ability to reason through normal situations. -- What is lacking in people who do not have common sense, or fail to display common sense?
We highly prize knowledge. Now we have the computer age and so much available knowledge that many people have nervous break downs because they cannot keep up with the flow of information. Many suicides result from the inability to cope.
The ancients said we would be given information and knowledge at a rate that we are capable of understanding and comprehending. They set up schools for special people who could absorb knowledge over a long period of time and then use that precious knowledge wisely. Knowledge, even the ability to read and write was kept from the common man.
Now we are a nation of specialist because so much knowledge is available that no one feels capable of becoming proficient in many areas of knowledge. Is this a good trend or do we become so compartmentalized and specialized that we loose the ability to function as individuals without the aid of other specialist?
A complaint commonly heard at schools from the students is that even when they have graduated (supposedly as a knowledgeable person) they are not prepared for coping with life situations. They have a lot of learning but not the ability to use it in practical applications.
Maybe it is time to reevaluate how we train our children in schools, in churches, and in the home. Are we giving them useful knowledge, useful information which can be used in everyday life?
Once we have the ability to reason and vast amounts of knowledge, we need the wisdom to use it wisely.
Many say wisdom is a gift from God and few individuals receive this gift.
Can We teach Wisdom?
In our lives we have seen many examples of the wrong use of knowledge.
We have also seen many examples of the right use of knowledge.
How can we put more emphasis on the right use of knowledge?
THIS IS A CRITICAL QUESTION TODAY!
We have used our knowledge to destroy the environment.
We have used our knowledge to destroy those who are different from ourselves.
Yes, we have made great advances but at what cost?
We have not developed the wisdom to use our knowledge as fast as we disseminate knowledge.
The role of the Church at one time was to teach Wisdom, or at least to teach the moral obligation to use knowledge wisely for the benefit of mankind. The churches role was to teach the ideals that people could use to guide themselves in making proper decisions.
The church gave people a view of the whole and how everything connected. The supreme principle or ideal we called God.
The Church gave people a hope for a better world.
Articles I have read indicate that now less than 10% of the people attend churches on a given Sunday.
So where do people get their moral training or wisdom training from?
TV
BOOKS
NEWSPAPERS
SCHOOLS
ON THE STREET
To me it is very sad that the churches have felt it necessary to try to duplicate secular groups and activities. Churches have become in many cases simply centers of entertainment activities. They are no longer Leaders in teaching people to reason, develop balanced knowledge and wisdom, or ideals to follow.
To me the church should work to improve the individual to bring out the best that an individual has to offer.
If we improve the individual and provide the spiritual guidance, then the individuals will form the groups, the businesses, and take on the activities necessary to see that knowledge is used wisely. They will be empowered to use reason, knowledge, and wisdom together for the benefit of mankind.
With love,
Rev Dorris
(March 9, 1997)
These are the 3 Greatest Gifts we have received from God.
These are also 3 Universal Life Principles.
Solomon -- Prayed for Wisdom above all else.
The Bible addresses Wisdom and Knowledge to be valued above all else.
The Dead Sea Scrolls put high value on knowledge and understanding.
The Koran does the same.
Most scriptures talk of ignorance or the absence of knowledge as being the root of all evil.
The ability to read and write and to receive an education has been a treasured commodity through-out the world.
Most of us take reading and writing for granted, but many of our high school graduates and many older people in the United States cannot read or write today. WHY?
Many of us look at the ability to reason as what separates us from normal animals. Science has taught us that even animals have the ability to reason. What truly sets us apart from the animals?
A common saying that we hear is that some people do not have any "Common Sense". Often we marvel when we see people displaying "Common Sense". This is the ability to reason through normal situations. -- What is lacking in people who do not have common sense, or fail to display common sense?
We highly prize knowledge. Now we have the computer age and so much available knowledge that many people have nervous break downs because they cannot keep up with the flow of information. Many suicides result from the inability to cope.
The ancients said we would be given information and knowledge at a rate that we are capable of understanding and comprehending. They set up schools for special people who could absorb knowledge over a long period of time and then use that precious knowledge wisely. Knowledge, even the ability to read and write was kept from the common man.
Now we are a nation of specialist because so much knowledge is available that no one feels capable of becoming proficient in many areas of knowledge. Is this a good trend or do we become so compartmentalized and specialized that we loose the ability to function as individuals without the aid of other specialist?
A complaint commonly heard at schools from the students is that even when they have graduated (supposedly as a knowledgeable person) they are not prepared for coping with life situations. They have a lot of learning but not the ability to use it in practical applications.
Maybe it is time to reevaluate how we train our children in schools, in churches, and in the home. Are we giving them useful knowledge, useful information which can be used in everyday life?
Once we have the ability to reason and vast amounts of knowledge, we need the wisdom to use it wisely.
Many say wisdom is a gift from God and few individuals receive this gift.
Can We teach Wisdom?
In our lives we have seen many examples of the wrong use of knowledge.
We have also seen many examples of the right use of knowledge.
How can we put more emphasis on the right use of knowledge?
THIS IS A CRITICAL QUESTION TODAY!
We have used our knowledge to destroy the environment.
We have used our knowledge to destroy those who are different from ourselves.
Yes, we have made great advances but at what cost?
We have not developed the wisdom to use our knowledge as fast as we disseminate knowledge.
The role of the Church at one time was to teach Wisdom, or at least to teach the moral obligation to use knowledge wisely for the benefit of mankind. The churches role was to teach the ideals that people could use to guide themselves in making proper decisions.
The church gave people a view of the whole and how everything connected. The supreme principle or ideal we called God.
The Church gave people a hope for a better world.
Articles I have read indicate that now less than 10% of the people attend churches on a given Sunday.
So where do people get their moral training or wisdom training from?
TV
BOOKS
NEWSPAPERS
SCHOOLS
ON THE STREET
To me it is very sad that the churches have felt it necessary to try to duplicate secular groups and activities. Churches have become in many cases simply centers of entertainment activities. They are no longer Leaders in teaching people to reason, develop balanced knowledge and wisdom, or ideals to follow.
To me the church should work to improve the individual to bring out the best that an individual has to offer.
If we improve the individual and provide the spiritual guidance, then the individuals will form the groups, the businesses, and take on the activities necessary to see that knowledge is used wisely. They will be empowered to use reason, knowledge, and wisdom together for the benefit of mankind.
With love,
Rev Dorris