The curse of knowledge and how to deal with it?

Question

Being a secularist and atheist, and living in a meinly theistic world, it is easy to veiw the religious masses as 'deluded apes' and not look on the bright side, not to see their humanity, rationality and acts of loving kindness.

Knowledge is not always rose tinted - when viewed through a particular lens life can seem cruel, and I suppose that theists have a similar view of misguided rejectors ie that they are living amongst fallible fools - what do you think? Does your knowledge give life a sense of tradegy?

How do you deal with the "curse" of knowing others are wrong?

Answer 1

Knowledge is great. That is why I learn all I can in college and in life. However, wisdom is much better. It allows me to see God as He would have me see Him and helps me understand people and love them even though some think more of themselves than they should.

Answer 2

I fully agree with Kevin Dellinger and Tamara S.
Intelligent people should use their intelligence and wisdom to steer humanity in the right direction. To give examples in any kind of situation, especially in the topic "emotional intelligence" , because that's the one most-needed, in my oppinion.
Okay, some ppl reading this may think: he acutally asks to manipulate others...But making ppl understand that, beeing caring, nice and helpful to anybody can give a true purpose in life, also at the same time, developing the phylosophy of one to a higher niveau. I think this last fact is very important, if we ever want to have peace and enough to eat in the entire world.
I don't think it matters if you'r a Christian or an Atheist.
I've had the feeling that Kevin is a religious person, while the poster of this question outed himself as an Atheist. Nevertheless, they have both the same oppinion, and are without a doubt intelligent persons.
So, it doesn't matter wheter one is religious or not. What really matters is to be spiritual, to believe in altruism and in the power of rationality.
One shouldn't feel cursed about it.. because it's a bless not many can profit from.

Answer 3

Having great intelligence does not mean you have great wisdom. They are two separate things. However, your point of view is based off of your own experiences. Everyone grows at their own level of intelligence and wisdom.

The best thing to do is show great respect for all living creatures. Allow everyone to believe what they want to believe. Because Religion gives people something special in their lives. It gives them hope, faith, and love. These are good qualities to have.

Even if you think the human made belief system is false, you do have a good loving heart, do you not? Feelings are the communication to the Soul. It is another reality or spiritual dimension that is well ignored due to material practical thinking.

Don't deprive yourself of the loving energy of Creation because of religious lifestyle. Religion and Spirituality are not the same. Even science is beautiful.

There is no tragedy but the tragedy of your own making. Don't let your ego and pride destroy the love. There is no curse but a fixed way of thinking. Allow love and creation to flow through you and give you more wisdom in the realm of spirit. To comprehend spirit is to feel. And to feel love is to letting go of the pain and fear. Embrace positive loving energy. This will give you another perspective on why people enjoy singing in church. This will give you a better perspective on the good things in life. Not just the bad.

Life is what you make of it.

Answer 4

Knowing that others are wrong gives me a deep sense of peace. Knowing that I do not have all of the answers does the same. Happiness is not knowing it all. I do not need to know everything to be happy, in fact to find happiness, the admission that we do not have the capability to know it all goes a long way. Knowledge is nothing without wisdom and wisdom is knowing that you do not have, nor do you need all of the answers. Those who suffer from depression and worry over the fate of the "ignorant masses" also suffer from the delusion that they can know it all and all of "their knowledge" is "correct". They are operating on a very superficial level of human awareness, when they get up the nerve to face their fears, perhaps they will go deeper.

Answer 5

I don't know that others are wrong, even in my own confidence, because the systems of truth I adhere to are largely my own construction. The reconsiliation of truth systems is the wonder of a Dialetic approach to truth that most western understandings (known as logical positivism) can't grasp. Try reading some of Hegel's philosophy; it might prove quite enlightening!

Answer 6

The chance that even one human being has it right is infinitely small. If you need everyone to be "right" (which means to agree with and think like you) in order to be happy then I feel sad because I want you to have a good life.

Answer 7

I think that pride comes before a fall,intellectualism is not a badge of certainty of peace and contentment in this life, as Christ said`` What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and yet lose his soul.!

Answer 8

When god phoned me last night she told me to watch out for questions like this.

it seems that somebody has been putting apples from the tree of life in comics and some people now think they now everything.

Apparently the only cure is a large slice of humble pie. Not sure where it can be bought, but as you know all the answers that's not a problem.

Is it?

Answer 9

All I know, is that I know very little. I am an atheist, but have the greatest respect for those Christians who have an earnest desire to make their world a better place. Do I "know" they are wrong? No. Do I "think" they are wrong? Yes.

Answer 10

Fortunately, most of my friends and family are secular - my Atheism is rarely a hinderence in my day to day life.