Philosophy Can Be Fun!

"Shun too great a desire for knowledge, for in it there is much fretting and delusion. Intellectuals like to appear learned and to be called wise. Yet there are many things the knowledge of which does little or no good to the soul, and he who concerns himself about other things than those which lead to salvation is very unwise. Many words do not satisfy the soul; but a good life eases the mind and a clean conscience inspires great trust in God." --Thomas á Kempis, The Imitation of Christ

I have discovered much truth in Thomas á Kempis’ observation. It is an interesting paradox that secular philosophers use the very disciplines of the mind, such as logic and reason, which God created, to argue against God’s existence. Yet even though á Kempis seems to argue against higher learning I am persuaded that since God did create the minds’ ability to think and reason and postulate and prove, it must be a worthwhile endeavor to study and understand philosophy. As long as the “love of knowledge” always places the queen of sciences – theology – in its proper place there is much to gain.

All that aside, I love to learn. I especially love to learn those things which help me to relate to God and which equip me to help others in their faith journey. I get excited about understanding grace from a new perspective or being able to relate a passage of Scripture to a detail of life I’d never considered before. God requires that we all be continual learners. There are many reasons for that, not the least of which is that we might be prepared for the questions being raised by modern skeptics within and without the church.

As I grow in acquaintance with the character of God my reverence for Him grows. As my ideas brighten on the person of Christ, I love Him more. As I become more acquainted with the perfection and spirituality of God's Word, I delight in it more. As I see more clearly the evil of sin, I hate it with a more intense hatred. And as I learn more and more about all these things—my wondrous joy increases.