Age develops wisdom?

Question

I see many criticism, paganistic affirmations and atheistic views, being expressed by very young people. 12 years old, etc. Being 3 times older than that, I see that what I believed was very limited due to lack of experience, study, etc. Do you think that a person, a majority, can be able to express a viable opinion, without living or experiencing life? At what age would you consider yourself with a firm opinion? What age are you now?

I guess I was not clear. How can a person with such limited experience, have, not say they have, but know the truth? Is it not true that the more you know (which leads to wisdom) the more you know that you know very little...in the big picture? I am trying to say, I guess, is...kids, live and learn. You will think differently after 3,5,7,10,20, 30 years. Change is constant.

Fair is fair. I am 40

Answer 1

Sure. Just because they're young doesn't mean they can't have an opinion. Not to mention - you're making a broad generalization about pagans and atheists, basically assuming everyone here who labels themselves as such is just "too young to know better". I honestly don't believe that. I would say I had firm and viable opinions by the age of 17. Now you're right - opinions and thoughts change as a person gets older and they learn who they are. We all keep growing and changing as we age.

I'm 34 and I'm a Pagan. My atheist husband is 41. I also know MANY atheists and Pagans over the age of 30. So that kinda blows your theory out of the water.

BTW - how old are you? Fair is fair. Thanks for the answer on this.

Added: Ah - okay. I guess I'm of the opinion that no matter what age you're at, you can't claim to know the truth. You might better know who you are and what spiritual path is best for you as you get older - but I believe spiritual truth is individual and how it grows is unique to each individual.

Answer 2

I suppose that I was one of those people you are talking about. I was firmly polytheistic before the age of 12. I didn't think I knew everything, but I had a solid foundation for my spiritual beliefs that continues with me today. Yes, some of my views have changed with time but the foundation is still the same because it makes sense to me and it works.

I don't feel that a person of that age can be a religious leader, though. That is a job that needs more experience and knowledge than they can possess. Still, only a few generations back, it wasn't uncommon for a 12 to 15 year old to be married and starting a family. My grandmother was a widow by age 13. What we now treat as children were once considered capable of being mature enough to make a home and start their own family. Have our children's "possible" maturity levels really dropped so low? I'm not saying that the average 12 year old is mature enough to take on the responsibilities of an adult, but rather, if they HAD to, I think they might be able to do it. So, yes, it is possible for a 12 year old to be mature enough to have informed opinions about what they believe and why.
I'm 41 years young.

Answer 3

It depends on the topic. There are subjects on which I always consult with my children. But the topics you refer to are not of those categories. Even though I've been interested in philosophical matters since a very young age, those early thoughts were necessarily "thin." They were fleshed out by exposure, over time, to many different currents of thought. A lot of this thought doesn't exist in the form of easily accessible text, or knowledge a young person would even know about.

Some of it is also to do with living itself. A person who leads an examined life will undergo triumphs, defeats, and certainly surprises. All of these can be greater or lesser lessons, but they are all in the future for younger people.

Of course this is more like a vector than an iron rule. I've known some young-ish people who have been through so many different and profound experiences that they are "wise beyond their years." And I know old people who've never wandered far from the cocoon of their early lives - and therefore seem naive.

So I suppose that's the practical answer to this. It isn't how long you've lived, but how much you've lived and how much attention did you've paid to it all.

I'm in my 60s, hoping to be around 'til the 70s, sometimes acting like I'm 12.

Answer 4

I've met some deeply insightful twelve year olds and some incredibly foolish fifty year olds. There's all sorts wrong with your question that locates you firmly in the "foolish 40-yo" category. How, for a start, do you know that these atheists are 12? I know the approx ages of some of the more prominent ones here, and they're mostly over 30. And so what if they aren't? Furthermore, how can you be so reductive? No, age doesn't develop wisdom. You can be a stubborn fool all your life if you want. It's not for me.

Turns out I'm still older than you. (Just.)

Answer 5

I believe wisdom comes from God. Only a personal relationship with Him will put one on the path toward wisdom.

However, with maturity and experience, some people learn and grow. Their experiences temper their emotions and they have a different outlook than the very young. The very young do not have a basis for comparison due to lack of experience.

There is not any one age at which one becomes 'wise' - it is a combination of willingness to grow, learn, etc. Intelligence differs from being smart. Someone who is smart may be able to learn, but someone who is intelligent utlizes their knowledge.

Answer 6

Experience certainly gives you the ability to question what you have been programmed to believe your entire life. This goes for religious beliefs supporting or denouncing religion as well. You point out the young non-Christians, but I would point out the young Christians who have yet to experience the real world.

However, regardless of age or experience, we will all have strong opinions on things, based on our (possibly limited) knowledge. I believe age has simply given us more time to encounter more knowledge. I guess an older person's opinion could be considered more informed, but of course, not always.

Answer 7

I dont think age has that much to do with it, Im 30 and I been very interested in spirituality and religion since I was a teenager. It was upseting to me at times that people didnt give me any respect just because I was young. True you do gain wisdon from many years on this planet,but we shouldn't discount peoples opinions just becuse they are below a certain age.

Answer 8

Sure. Age develops Wisdom. Even at the very younger days itself i.e. from the age of five on wards one must have your openion.


But You must never be stuborn. You must have the ability to read, listen and choose right openion from your surroundings. It is just like trial and error that one become perfect.


Today you may belief that, with reasons, what you think and do is the right order and decision. But when time passes and when you observe other's openion, you may find them right, when you pass another few years.


Listen, Observe, and "experiments with the truth" just like Mahathma Gandhi did.

I am 36 years old

Answer 9

Yes.Hinduism says "Aaptha Vaakyam"=Sayings by intellectual elders can be considered as scriptures.But "Rule is always proved by exceptions"--"vayo vrddho(Chronological ageing ) need not necessarily be Gjnaana vrddho(Intellectual ageing)---"Vraddhaa Sishyaaha Gurur yuva"=the teacher is 16 years old and his students are 80 year old>Example is Acharya sri Sankara (Shanmadha Sthaapana Acharya--Vedhaantha Siromoney-verily the GOD Himself as beleived by Hindus) within 32 years of his Life Span-he has created so much of intellectual Religious(Hindu) litreature which has not been produced by ALL the Hindu Saints put together till date(from 2nd century A.D.)

Answer 10

Prior to the age of 4 most humans have a compassionate understanding of the plight of others.

Then we civilize it out of them. Many people seem to actually get dumber as they get older.

Look at the number of people in their 50s 60s and 70s who supported the idiot Bush's war on terror. At his age these people should be shot for not knowing better.

Next year I will be 60 and sometimes I'm amazed at some of the stupid things that I do.

Love and blessings Don