If the 'fear of the LORD' is the beginning of wisdom/knowledge, then why do atheists think they are so smart?

Question

Proverbs1:7;9:10

Obviously when they deny the LORD, they don't fear or reverence Him.

Or is it just that their wisdom/knowledge is different than Godly or Spiritual wisdom/knowledge?

FYI, Yahoo put this question in this category. I did put the same question in R&S also.

saskia, The 'wisdom' gifted to King Solomon said this. And it is known that King Solomon was very wise.

doubting Thomas, The same God of the Old & New Testaments Is the same God of today.

The fear of God is realizing God Is? And there are conscequences for denying God. It is written in Isaiah that Jesus Christ himself was also anointed with the 'Fear of the LORD'. So? Did Jesus fear & respect His Heavenly Father? Jesus said that a greater Wisdom than Solomon was present among them. Meaning Jesus Is Wisdom also.

Answer 1

Interpretation might be a problem too. "Fear" in this situation might be more of a case of "respect" rather than the base human emotion of fright. Why should a loving God demand us to cower before Him?

C. S. Lewis used a word for fear of God, the Numinous. It is more a sense of awe, rather than fear as we might think of it today, cowering in a corner from a ravinous tiger, for instance. The numinous might be like the feeling we would get if we feel like a ghost is in the room, when our hair stands on end. We don't see the ghost; is it even there? What was that sound? Hard to understand, mysterious. The word, numinous, did not come originally from Lewis, but the latin origin is not necessary here, I think.

I think your last question is better. Atheists' wisdom/knowledge is different than that of the spiritual. Atheists' intelligence shouldn't be in doubt. I have known both religious and atheist that were smarter than I. Because I can't claim to have known the spiritual, I can't claim to know this wisdom. So I do not understand this difference. but reason would lead me to believe there is a difference since there is much argument between the two.

I have respect for both sides, when they are honest and open. I lose respect when they are condescending (as your first question seems to imply).

In any case, my writing has wandered somewhat from the topics of your questions. But to clarify, I disagree with your initial question because of interpretation of scripture and phraseology. I instead answer your second question. They ARE different. You should respect that difference. Perhaps someday the two sides shall meet. Until that day, allow the other to be who they are and live as you live. Just as the scripture asks us to love our neighbor as ourselves, also we should respect our neighbor. This doesn't mean just those people who agree with everything we believe in.

I wish you all well.

Answer 2

This "fear of the Lord" is a rather odd concept.
Men who are/were slaves or captives have feared their master or guards. Treating God as something that should be feared is an anthropomorphism of God. That is giving human qualities to God. Certainly the physical world has its dangers, but to go about your life or existence in fear is a disgusting way of life or existence.
This "God" of the Old Testament is something that we do not experience in the 21st Century. Could that be because we understand cause and effect much better? Could it be that we are not superstitious or do not make connections between happenstances that have nothing to do with real causes and effects?
My "wisdom/knowledge" is based upon reason and logic, not superstition.
And no, I am not an atheist, but I am what is called a Deist. However, I think that an atheist would approach your question in a somewhat similar manner.

In response to your riposte, you seem to be imbedded in a hearsay religious mode, quoting ancient texts that neither you nor anyone that you have ever met or known has witnessed for fact.
Nature's God is available for all to see. It is much more grand than the God as presented in the Old Testament or any such writings of the ancients. I do not know your age, background or education, but it appears that you are emotional to a fault about this belief in a God that is something less than Nature's God.

Oh, and as others have stated previously, you question does not actually belong in the philosophy section. Philosophy deals with truth, not blind faith.

Answer 3

As an example, Nietzsche would say that wisdom started with "fear of the Lord" because that was what started people thinking as a whole. Before we had come up with the concept of all all-seeing, all-knowing perfect being, humans were more superficial (take Pre-Socratic philosophy which was mostly concerned with questions about nature.) "Fear of the Lord" made people more introspective and deepened their thoughts in terms of purpose, philosophy etc.

But just because a concept was useful to get us to this more introspective point does not mean that it remains useful. All our thoughts should eventually be overcome and replaced by something new.

And yes, this is a very western-centric answer that does not take into consideration the ancient and deep philosophy of the east

Answer 4

There's a big difference between intelligence and wisdom or knowledge. Just because you have a high capacity for learning doesn't mean you utilize it properly, or even well. Wisdom is actually the knowledge of "how" to use what you have learned. Don't confuse smart with wise.

Answer 5

The beginning of wisdom and knowledge is when you first notice that your behavior has an effect on your environment, social and physical, which in turn has an effect on you. You begin collecting cause and effect observations based on what you see around you.

The antithesis of knowledge and wisdom is to speculate on a thing you don't know, then start to believe your own speculation.

Answer 6

You really are in the wrong section.

When you use one book from one religion to try to understand the root of wisdom, you are severely limiting yourself. I can just as easily say

"The cure for the suffering caused by desire is the 8-fold path, so why do christians use 10 commandments? Don't they see that their path is misguided? Or is their path just different from alleviating suffering?"

And fear of the lord is the beginning of delusion, not knowledge/wisdom.

Answer 7

There is a big difference between Wisdom and Knowledge. Knowledge is the acquisition of information. Wisdom is the ability to use knowledge.

Answer 8

You are quoting one sentence from one collection of mystical oral tradition gathered in written form by one tribe in one part of the world during one specific period of history. Why do YOU think that is smart?
Are you really aware of the number of cultures and traditions making the exact same statement you are? Are you aware that they are saying that it is you that have strayed from the one true faith? Is everyone else wrong but you? Is that smart?
I am not an atheist and don't claim to be smart but I can tell you that the 'eyes closed' view will not help you.

Answer 9

Fear of the lord is not the begining of wisdom. You need to belive in god before you can be afraid of him. And I think the people who said this meant: "Not believing in any god or higher power is the beginning of wisdom."
Atheists think they're are smart because they don't let all their questions be answered by one anser: It was all god's plan.
They want to know more.

Answer 10

I agree with everyone else, and I'd like to add that you seem to be the one that thinks they're smart. Just because you have "Godly" knowledge, that doesn't mean you are intelligent, that just means you know facts about one subject. I know some hard core bible thumpers that are completely ignorant to the outside world.