Knowledge

"For we KNOW in part...and we prophecy in part...but when that which is perfect is come...then that which is in part will be done away."

A professor was overheard talking with a student and he said, "You can't know that, I have not taught you that yet."  Hummm....

A decade ago, one might have been able to say that...however, now we have moved from the 'information' age to the 'communication' age.  What was once only known by professors and universities is now readily accessed on the internet.  For just a small fee, you can read all of the research in just a few clicks that was once only available to 'the knowing ones'.

Brian Martin in his book, "Information liberation" gives a list of the 'proper' ways to view knowledge.  It is a very insightful list and one that demands more than a passing glance.  Here it is:

• Knowledge is treated as a commodity, passively accepted
and absorbed by student consumers.
• Classroom experience is organised around the premise
that learning results only from being taught by experts.
• Knowledge is divided into narrow disciplinary boxes.
• Original, unorthodox thoughts by students, and noncon-
ventional choices of subjects and learning methods, are
strongly discouraged.
• Competition prevails over cooperation.
• Knowledge and learning are divorced from social
problems or channelled into professional approaches.
• Credentials, the supposed symbols of learning, are sought
more than learning itself.
• Performance in research takes precedence over commit-
ment to teaching.
• Most research is narrow, uninspired and mediocre, useful
only to other experts or vested interests.
• Scholarly openness and cooperation take second place to
the academic rat race and power struggle which involves
toadying, backstabbing, aggrandisement of resources and
suppression of dissidents.
• Original or unconventional thoughts by staff, or action on
social issues, are penalised, while narrow conformist thought
and action are rewarded.

This blog was born as a reaction to this list.  YOU, no matter who you are or where on the planet you live, can have knowledge.  YOU don't have to pay the experts thousands of dollars to 'tell you' certain tidbits of knowlege and give you certification that you KNOW it.

The Bible says that the 'partial' knowledge is going to be done away with.  Acutally, this is precisely what Martin says in his book---that most research is only relevant to a small group or for a short time.

So, what IS important when it comes to knowledge?  The Bible says, "The KNOWLEDGE of the Holy is understanding."

1. Put knowing God at the top of your educational agenda.
2. After putting God first at each study time, figure out what it is YOU want to KNOW.
3. Search and learn through the available media.
4. Compare what you know back to the Scriptures and see if it lines up with your study and KNOWLEDGE of God.

Remember, the purpose of our living here is to KNOW God, and to make Him KNOWN.