Why shouldn't I learn all I can?

Question

I asked a question about the meaning of a Pagan's comment about Christianity, and I was told by a couple people that I should not concern myself with such things.

I am reading a book on the history of Christianity, which happens to be written by a Christian. The chapter I'm on is about the persecution of the early Christians, and how they were treated and viewed by non-Christian Romans.

Why shouldn't I learn about this?
Why shouldn't I learn all that I am driven to want to know?

Answer 1

You should learn all that you can. You should study everything your heart desires and grow and improve your mind. The more you learn the more sense what you already know will make.

I am a Christian. I love learning. From my learning I have discovered that Truth is truth, wherever it is found.

There will always be those who will tell you what to think, feel, believe, etc... Don't listen to them. They are blind or cowards. Maybe both. Have the courage to ask questions and the stregnth to embrace truth.

God bless.

Answer 2

You SHOULD learn all that you can. Don't listen to them.

Just keep in mind, though, that "absolutely power corrupts absolutely". Don't let all your learning get to your head (I know it is very tempting).

Paul wrote this to Timothy, a bishop in the early Christian Church (2 Timothy 2:14-16):

14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

To me, this scripture, above, is saying that study is good, provided we don't use it as a tool to fight with people.

I am a Christian (LDS), and I really can't see any harm at all in understanding the spirituality and perspective of a Pagan. Once you understand what the other person knows, you can make your own mind up about it (ask the "voice within").

How is anyone supposed to rely on someone else's opinion as to what is "real truth" and what is "lies"? You have to find an inner locus. I think you already know that there is truth in every religion :-)

Love and Peace.

Answer 3

Why indeed? I think some people feel if you read things that are not entirely consistent with your faith, you will thereby lose your faith. Pretty fragile faith in that case, wouldn't you say?

Unfortunately, a lot of Christians do indeed have rather fragile faith, in that they expect too much of themselves. The fundamentalists seem to be like that. They know, in their rational mind, that they cannot take every word of the Bible literally -- not literally. But it is precious to them, and they have been brought up to believe it is all or nothing. Fortunately, there are also more liberal Christians who realize that there is much of value in the Bible without having to resort to such "all or nothing" faith.

The God that really exists, not just the one some people imagine, gave you a mind and the ability to read and to think. Use it well.

Answer 4

I think you should. History has much we can learn from. Especially if we want to avoid making the same mistakes over and over.

Don't limit yourself to Christian only books either. Trust the Lord and pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. One of the best books I've read on demonology was written by a non-believer.

Answer 5

You should learn all there is to learn. That is a good thing. But try not to focus on just one viewpoint. For every book written by a Christian that speaks of how the early Christians were persecuted, there is another written by an actual historian that documents how "early Christian persecution" was a pious Christian myth that developed centuries later.

Answer 6

Possibly "...I was told by a couple people that I should not concern myself with such things." - they were thinking that to learn things outside of your faith would reduce or weaken (their thinking your Christian) your primary Christian faith, with "false" ideas. Unless they know you very well, this is what strikes my first impression of strangers when talking to you.
Learning all you want or are driven to is never wrong.
Perhaps strangers should read your bio before thinking your "drifting" from your faith?

Answer 7

(John 8:32 KJV) And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
The truth is the word of God. You should know it like the back of the hand, but i caution about other things because:
(Mark 4:19 KJV) And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
If you flood your mind too much with worldly knowledge it will choke the word of God to the point it will be of no use.

Answer 8

In my opinion you should learn whatever you can irrespective of religion or any other subject. Naturally one will be inclined to learn only the interested subject and in your case it is Religious studies. While studying and after studying it is your duty to assess what you have studied and take it if it is ethical and suitable to you and all.

I too have studied and tried to understand certain thing of other religions, but I have not found anything more better that our Gita and Vedas, so I have just stopped at the stage of studying only and not taken any further step. Similarly you can very well read them and take it if you like it is upto your philosophy, otherwise just ignore.-

Answer 9

You should learn all you can but bear in mind that every history book contains more or less the subjectives views of it's author, politically correct info, partial truth and partial lies.
Knowledge is important but can also be a burden.

Answer 10

You should learn all you can about Christianity. Be a God Chaser. I studied everything I could get my hands on, People's opinions from what they had studied, comparisons, of work. I have even studied Greek and Roman Mythology and found that it was very similar to The Book of Enoch 's topic of the fallen angels and nephilum. The more you study, the more you will know.