they don't teach "wisdom 101" in the universities.
Nor can a student choose to major in wisdom. (what would someone do with a wisdom major anyway?)
Of course, there are philosophy majors. In fact, my philosophy of art professor said today that "philosophy and wisdom are synonyms." I was very humoured to hear a philosophy instructor say that. I believe it is wise to study all sorts of different philosophies for the purpose of broadening one's perspective, but to say that philosophy=wisdom is simply not true.
I find it to be very interesting that wisdom isn't taught in the universities. After pondering this for a while during class, I began to question what wisdom actually is. The bible says that there are two types of wisdom. There is wisdom of the world and divine wisdom.
(Why do I care what the bible says? Well, I'm an English major and the bible is one of the most phenomenal literary masterpieces that we're aware of. Also, if you understand the context of what you're reading, if you're open to what the bible says, if you're in a position to receive it; you can sometimes feel movement in the words. In other words, what is said has a way of intruding your comfort and confronting your discomfort. I believe it is wise to destroy your comfort and open the wounds of discomfort.)
1 Corinthians 1: 18-21 says:
"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.' Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe."
Basically, that means to me that there is a deeper wisdom to find than what can simply be found by using logic or reason. There is a wisdom that can only be understood spiritually, and this spiritual wisdom can sort of contain the worldly wisdom and keep it regulated. Worldy wisdom is important to understand for the sake of understanding the people in the world, but the challenge is to help the people of the world find a way to open their spirit to the beauty of the mysterious divine wisdom. And this brings me to the purpose of my life.
Many people are searching for ease, comfort, stability, fortune, etc. Many people have experienced things that, according to the wisdom of the world, shut them away from ever really finding peace, joy, contentment, beauty, etc. Ecclesiastes 1:18 says: "For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief." What I find to be saddening about wisdom, is that with it you see that there is no escape for the heart of the one who isn't searching for the divine wisdom, because the wisdom of the world provides no answers for disaster. But the wisdom of God says that with disaster will come healing, with mourning will come joy, with internal-struggle will come peace.
To end this blog, which could go on forever and never end, I will quote one more section of scripture which I find to be quite interesting and key in understanding the interaction of divine wisdom with our lives. Proverbs 1:20-27 says: (remember, this is Wisdom talking...not God.)
"Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, in the gateways of the city she makes her speech:
'How long will you simple ones love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you. But since you rejected me when I called and no one gave heed when I stretched out my hand, since you ignored all my advice and would not accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh at your disaster; I will mock when calamity overtakes you-- when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you.
Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me. Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the LORD, since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes. For the waywardness of the simple will destroy them; but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm."
currently listening to "Bodysong." by: Jonny Greenwood. http://www.radiohead.com/
Of course, there are philosophy majors. In fact, my philosophy of art professor said today that "philosophy and wisdom are synonyms." I was very humoured to hear a philosophy instructor say that. I believe it is wise to study all sorts of different philosophies for the purpose of broadening one's perspective, but to say that philosophy=wisdom is simply not true.
I find it to be very interesting that wisdom isn't taught in the universities. After pondering this for a while during class, I began to question what wisdom actually is. The bible says that there are two types of wisdom. There is wisdom of the world and divine wisdom.
(Why do I care what the bible says? Well, I'm an English major and the bible is one of the most phenomenal literary masterpieces that we're aware of. Also, if you understand the context of what you're reading, if you're open to what the bible says, if you're in a position to receive it; you can sometimes feel movement in the words. In other words, what is said has a way of intruding your comfort and confronting your discomfort. I believe it is wise to destroy your comfort and open the wounds of discomfort.)
1 Corinthians 1: 18-21 says:
"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.' Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe."
Basically, that means to me that there is a deeper wisdom to find than what can simply be found by using logic or reason. There is a wisdom that can only be understood spiritually, and this spiritual wisdom can sort of contain the worldly wisdom and keep it regulated. Worldy wisdom is important to understand for the sake of understanding the people in the world, but the challenge is to help the people of the world find a way to open their spirit to the beauty of the mysterious divine wisdom. And this brings me to the purpose of my life.
Many people are searching for ease, comfort, stability, fortune, etc. Many people have experienced things that, according to the wisdom of the world, shut them away from ever really finding peace, joy, contentment, beauty, etc. Ecclesiastes 1:18 says: "For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief." What I find to be saddening about wisdom, is that with it you see that there is no escape for the heart of the one who isn't searching for the divine wisdom, because the wisdom of the world provides no answers for disaster. But the wisdom of God says that with disaster will come healing, with mourning will come joy, with internal-struggle will come peace.
To end this blog, which could go on forever and never end, I will quote one more section of scripture which I find to be quite interesting and key in understanding the interaction of divine wisdom with our lives. Proverbs 1:20-27 says: (remember, this is Wisdom talking...not God.)
"Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, in the gateways of the city she makes her speech:
'How long will you simple ones love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you. But since you rejected me when I called and no one gave heed when I stretched out my hand, since you ignored all my advice and would not accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh at your disaster; I will mock when calamity overtakes you-- when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you.
Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me. Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the LORD, since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes. For the waywardness of the simple will destroy them; but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm."
currently listening to "Bodysong." by: Jonny Greenwood. http://www.radiohead.com/
posted by andrew at 00:55
2 Comments:
I think its really important that you drive up here and come see the Dead Sea Scrolls with me...again. It was a phenomenal, spiritual, powerful experience.
I'm quite surprised that a Philosophy professor would make such a grave error. Forgive me for nitpicking, but philosophy means "The study of knowledge," correct? So, how can philosophy=wisdom, when anyone with junior high youth group bible literacy can point out that there is quite a distinction between wisdom and knowledge. They are two different things.
Or, at least that's my spin on the topic.
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