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There’s a little phrase that ruffles my feathers sometimes, “I was always taught.” It bothers me because it suggests not really thinking for yourself, not even really taking responsibility for what you do think and believe. “I was always taught,” as if this is the approved curriculum so I don’t even question it.
Question everything.
God Himself appreciates our questions and we are told to seek wisdom. Seek and ye shall find. Not knowledge, but wisdom. Also, she is female, wisdom that is, not because women are smarter, but simply because it is a delightful analogy with many implications. It is the nature of women to receive, reflect, and multiply. So it is with wisdom, too. Also the dreaded s word applies here, submission, because all great thinkers must surrender what they know, submit to the possibility that our own intelligence is not the end all and be all of all things. Come unto Him like a child full of wonder and curiosity and He will show you what you need to know.
Don’t believe everything you think.
I really grew up on the fringe, in rather unpleasant circumstances, did not go to school, or church, and while there were a lot of drawbacks, there were some good things about it too, I really had to learn how to think for myself. Unfortunately many of the things I was taught were not so good. There is no God. Life has no meaning. The world is a dangerous place. People are out to get you. That is the cruelty of atheism and those who don’t see it, should try to perceive it through a child’s eyes.
Today I am a radical free thinker, one who constantly questions everything, even God Himself, although with great reverence and admiration, at least for the most part. Sometimes I am more like that annoying little kid that just keeps asking “why” because they don’t like the answer, but for the most part I question with reverence, like one might admire a great artist and wish to understand them.
There is a lot of indoctrination in the world today, technology, advertising, education, the media, all entities more than willing to do all our thinking for us. Break out of that sound barrier, step out of the box, use your own brain and think. That’s what moves us forward, that’s what brings us wisdom.
I love the quote, “The truth is like a lion; you don’t have to defend it. Let it loose; it will defend itself.”
Dan Ledwith said:
I am right there with you on this one. I hate when people say that.
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Mike said:
Women are smarter. The world is a dangerous place. And, people are out to get me.
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Pastor Randy said:
I agree that God loves our questions. If God didn’t love questions, He would have zapped me with a bolt of lightning and long time ago and I would be extra crispy! Peace and blessings to you!
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Salvageable said:
I believe it was Rene Descartes who based his philosophy upon “Question everything.” I know that it was Kierkegaard who responded, “Why?” J.
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Marissa said:
Great post. Sometimes it takes quite a bit of self-awareness to even identify what we were “always taught” because it’s become so much a part of us. Definitely worth doing, though, and I’ve learned to (usually) enjoy the questioning, thinking, and seeking.
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SLIMJIM said:
I think certainly we must not just give the excuse for bad and false ideas on the basis that “I was always taught…”
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rhondarhoda said:
Thank you for making me think…This was a great post…Appreciate you sharing.
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dolphinwrite said:
I’m glad you are seeking. I have always thought people should observe their own thinking, and question what they believe so they better understand. Like the father who asked his son, why do you believe 3 + 4 = 7. Well, because that’s what I was taught. Wrong answer. The reason should be because I see it for myself. That understanding keeps us safe from those who would use rhetoric and other intellectual devices.
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