On Being Taught

I think it's humorous and tragic, all at once, for those who poo-poo the reading of books--especially old ones--on matters of faith. We sit under human preachers every single week, and listen to human teachers on tape and television--how in the world is this any different from reading human teachers in a book? I am taught by the preacher who speaks, and I am taught by the preacher who has spoken, and written it down to be read later on.

Then there are those that so mock and deride the different style of writing that they cannot lift their brains above a hard word long enough to see what the man is actually trying to say. One purpose of education must be to clear away all obstacles of communication--that the great minds of other times (and other cultures and languages) might share what they've learned. To ignore the content for an unfamiliar or difficult form is utterly ignorant. It is the thought that counts. And the specific, exact thought is determined by the specific, exact words chosen by the author of the thought in order to perfectly comminicate the specific exact thought correctly. We should apologize for our ignorance in these 'conversations' when we do not understand a word, term, phrase, or figure of speech, and then continue to listen. To mock a man for using a word we do not understand is to reveal our own ignorance and idiocy and foolishness--a fool hates wisdom and instruction. If it is a stumbling block, remove it! Not by chastising the writer, but by pulling out a dictionary and using the brain God gave.

some (rant-ish) thoughts.