THE KNOWLEDGE TRAP

 

 

The Bible cautions us about the danger of knowledge, even of correct knowledge:

·       1 Corinthians 8:1–3 (NASB) Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies. If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know; but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him.

However, it’s not just the Bible sounding this alarm:

·       “In reality, people who are highly educated, intelligent, or rhetorically skilled are significantly less likely than most others to revise their beliefs or adjust their behaviors when confronted with evidence or arguments that contradict their preferred narratives or preexisting beliefs. Precisely in virtue of knowing more about the world or being better at arguing, we are better equipped to punch holes in data or narratives that undermine our priors, come up with excuses to “stick to our guns” irrespective of the facts, or else interpret threatening information in a way that flatters our existing worldview. And we typically do just that.”

https://musaalgharbi.substack.com/p/smart-people-are-especially-prone

We love to feel good about ourselves and to believe that we have all our cognitive pieces in place. This might contribute to high self-esteem, but it also contributes to pride and the rigidity that is often a by-product. Psychologist Roy Baumeister noted:

·       “For three decades, I and many other psychologists viewed self-esteem as our profession’s Holy Grail: a psychological trait that would soothe most of individuals’ and society’s woes. We thought that high self-esteem would impart not only success, health, happiness, and prosperity to the people who possessed it, but also stronger marriages, higher employment, and greater educational attainment in the communities that supported it. (http://imaginefirestone.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/RethinkingSelf-Esteem.pdf)

However, the problem isn’t with knowledge or education but the way it often  affects us, causing us look down on the “uneducated.” However, our Savior humbles us so that knowledge and wisdom does not “go to our head.” Even we hold humility in high regard as long as it isn’t we who are being humbled.