Why do Christians support education?

Question

It has become abundantly obvious that one need not know so much as how to pick one's nose to be able to say "Jesus loves me" and thus be saved.

It has also become abundantly clear that Christians lack a convincing argument to convert intelligent 21st-century non-christians (offering money and power is -not- conversion).

Ergo it is obvious, the more intelligent we are, the less susceptible we are to joining Christianity.

Wouldn't that argue in favour of ending education entirely, so as to save more souls?

Answer 1

Not a bigot, are you?
Of course not...it's just that everyone who agrees with you is intelligent, while anyone who holds an opinion different from yours is stupid.
Thank you for clearing that up for us.

Answer 2

When you say, "It has also become abundantly clear" - what that says to me is you're speaking from your personal experiences. I don't know what those experiences are, but mine are different. And it's possible that your experiences are slanted by the people you choose to be around, the influences you choose to read, the websites you choose to visit, your family, and so on.

If you start with the opposite hypothesis: "It has also become abundantly clear that Christians have a very convincing argument to convert 21st-century non-christians" and then investigate this to find one, you might find different results.

Lastly, you make an important assumption here: that Christians need or try to use a "convincing argument" to convert people. Having a convincing argument has nothing to do with knowing God or knowing that Jesus is the Son of God. Did you ever think that possibly Christians actually know God as a Friend and a Father? Why would there need to be a convincing argument?

I follow Jesus because I have had experiences in my life that have brought me to meet God and know His Son. I am intelligent. I don't think you would disagree with that - and I have many friends, very intelligent friends, that also follow Jesus. I'm quite certain you would not disagree that they are intelligent, also.

Try reading the Epistles written by the Apostle Paul, and tell me he wasn't intelligent.

Anyway, I could continue on and on about this. I better stop. But you can e-mail me if you want to talk about it more.

YouTube: chrispalasz

Answer 3

Christianity is about knowing God loves people, and in turn, loving God. A lot of Christians have some interesting views on a lot of subjects, but even the most right-wing, conservative Christian believes that we are in a never ending journey of gaining knowledge.

Christians believe in science and math, and we actually can think for ourselves. Some aspects of our faith deal with miracles and supernatural acts, but that does not mean that science is thrown out the window. If a non-Christian can explain how matter popped into existence, and how there can be life without any divine intervention, I would love to hear how. If there was a big bang that started the universe, where did the matter come from and what caused the bang? How is it that conditions on the Earth are able to support life, but none of the other planets can support any life? How does water on Mars prove that there is life on Mars? If there is life on Mars, how does that negate the existence of God? If we came from apes, why are there still apes? If we came from the sea, why are there still animals in the sea? If we evolved from a single celled organism, why the diversity?

Evolution is a tricky subject, because any flaw in the mutation of genetic code has the ability to wipe out an entire species, yet we have so many different types and classes of animals. There has to be something behind the scenes directing and orchestrating our universe. Christians, as well as Muslims and Jews, believe that God is in control.

Anyway, I am a Christian and I love learning about science, and how things work. The more order and reliability I see in the world around me, the more I appreciate how big God really is.

Answer 4

Education of the masses was started by religion. The first US public schools were mandated by the Congregationalists and Presbyterians in the 1600s.

Harvard was established by the Clergy as the first American institute of higher learning in the Arts and Sciences.

About 1/3 to 1/2 of the private and Ivy League universities are religiously founded or have religious backgrounds

It does not take intellegence to convert or argue for religion.

What is happening in the world is dissatisfaction with the establishment, liberalism or the moral code and view and opposition to orthodoxy.

That can't be changed or countered.

In short, people are making their own beds, let them lay in them.

YOu reap what you sew.

Answer 5

What a ridiculous suggestion. There was also a Gallop poll that suggests that the more educated a person is the more likely they are to be devout to the religion they belong to, or to not believe at all.
There are just as many highly educated Christians as there are non-religious people with an education.

Just because some Christians do not support one theory of science, does that REALLY suggest that they are not good at math, language, history etc etc?? or even science?

It is also a fact that there are many people coming to God every day, and yes they are even intelligent people.

Answer 6

1. Your basic understanding of Christianity is totally wrong. I don't blame you - many "Christians" themselves do not understand salvation truly entails. Its certainly more than being able to say, "Jesus loves me." That's "cheap grace," and comes from those who don't understand scripture.

2. Your arrogance in your second sentence is astounding. Your sentence implies that any intelligent person could not possibly be a Christian. That is the height of arrogance. I'll be glad to debate you any day regarding science, evolution, religion, Christianity, archeology or history. Your image of a Christian is short-sighted and inaccurate

3. I disagree with your third sentence. The more we know, the more we often realize that we "don't know." The universe is an incredibly place - it boggles the mind.

The more I study biology, chemistry and other topics, the more I grow in my faith.

Answer 7

Gee...I've never been offered money and power to convert....or do you mean the prosperity teachers? Those people aren't teaching the love of God....they are teaching the love of money...which we should all know is the root of all evil...not money...but the love of money is the root. There is a difference.

You know.....we are all entitled to our opinions but my daddy always told me about your kind. He called them educated fools. Full of book sense but no common sense.

Common sense tells me that there has to be a God. If a pencil can not just 'appear' or create itself...then how is a complex universe supposed to just 'appear' or create itself?

I have the utmost respect for education....you have to have one in order to survive in this world....BUT you do not have to believe everything you read or hear. That is where your common sense kicks in. Even education tells you to test everything....be able to prove or back up what you claim. And for whatever can't be proven ...then you have to rely on your gool ol' common sense.

Your point is really pointless. From the best I can understand....God doesn't want mindless robots doing something just because someone told them too...which is what you propose, He wants people who love Him of their own free will. You have to decide to follow Him....and in order to decide you have to have a mind that works. Makes sense to me.

Answer 8

You shall know the truth, and the truth will make you free. John 8:32. How else to know the truth, than through education.
We still have to provide for our families, just as you intelligent people do, and we need education to provide us with opportunities to offer us a standard of deprived living to which we have become accustomed. I would rather be ignorant and saved than intelligent and bound for hell. This is my choice. Choose you this day, whom you will serve.

Answer 9

Once the church was in charge of education, and in those times people like gallelao who looked for real answers and proved things were viilified and persecuted , education had to break away from the church so it could have a chance of teaching what was real, god forbid if you said the world was round or if WE went around the sun, if you didnt denounce those claims they would kill you, and some would do it now too, if they could.

Answer 10

That's an awfully pompous statement you make that the more intelligent people are less likely to be Christian. Someday look up a list of authors/philosophers/thinkers/notable people who were Christian and then tell me that they're unintelligent.

I'm a Christian and I love education, I value mine immensely. There's more to a Christian life than "saving souls" as you put it.

Answer 11

If you have not studied the Bible, with a sincere desire to get to know God and His truth, it will always seem to be foolishness to you. Christianity does indeed appeal to the intellect, only after the heart is transformed.