Ok I see where you're coming from.

I sometimes struggle with articulating myself, more so now English has become more of a second language to me.

I'm not an atheist, I just don't believe in religion, I'm more of a mother nature kind of guy, I'm sure there is probably a term for it that I'm not aware of.

Again education does not equal intelligence, if it did there would be no stupid people in this world.

 

Pantheism.

 

Having had a look I'd say almost, but I see I'm in good company and I didn't need a book to tell me what to think.

 

Sorry I missed this yesterday.

Correct, gold star, pat on the backm move to the top of the class.

That's exactly what people are brainwashed with, higher up the scale you go the bigger the reward, it's no different to giving peanuts to monkeys.

 

No worries.

Agreed on the point about education and intelligence though. Some of the stupidest things I've ever seen have been performed by highly educated people.

 

Wisdom, as Spurgeon defined it, is the "right use of knowledge". I'd agree with this, but then I agree with most of which Spurgeon has written. I think and feel that a particularly wise person has innate intelligence, has had this developed through educational training and has learnt to apply this couplet effectively. I feel for the naturally bright who struggle to articulate their thoughts owing to a lack of training; I'm frustrated by the false confidence of those educated, but lacking in flare; I'm disappointed with those who decline the works of others and I'm inspired by those with innate gifts who've acquired the education to draw them out and who've completed the reading necessary to enable them to stand on the shoulders of giants.

 

I'd agree with that to a degree, but add some words of caution.

It's also easy for a bright mind to become clouded with the thoughts of others and be steered away from enlightenment.

No need to stand on the shoulders of others no matter how high one is elevated you'll never achieve nirvana with a clouded mind.

 

my older brother was educated at St Pauls School (London) - usually in the top 3 academic schools in the country

in his academic profession he was, at one time in, in the top 20 people in the world

he is imo, of extremely limited intelligence

 

Thank you, but why do you have to patronise, Ditch? You do sound condescending sometimes, as Neil pointed out in relation to James. Why is that?

Can you please elaborate on this^? It's making least sense, relationally. Thanks.


And............

^ Excellent post!

 

I think we've found our bone of contention. "If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants," said Isaac Newton. If humanity had adopted your fallacy, we'd see no further than the end of our nose. Original thoughts might be original, but it doesn't make them right. Anyway, I don't want to take you off your chosen path, let me know if you invent the wheel.

 

I view education as a bit of a necessary evil, in that we all need a certain amount of it to be able to communicate and get on in a world that is based around it.

It is however a double edged sword in matters of life and the universe and should be viewed with caution, many a so called scholar failed to find the answers they were looking for, so to continue in the same vein is folly and indeed many were led astray by those with vested interests that went before them.

Truly bright minds lead the way, they do not follow.

 

I have obviously upset you and for that I am truly sorry, it's not my intention.

You have to realise in all of this we are but men at the end of the day, and this is what you will be judged on if the day ever comes.

You cannot espouse one point of view and then submit to the failings of the flesh.

I get that you're a mind in turmoil, but you can't claim to have achieved something when you clearly haven't, better to admit that you are still a work in progress.

 

Yes, this sort is sometimes spotted in academia. This attribute can be named as the Tunnel Vision syndrome.

I agree but not entirely.

Truly bright minds may follow selectively, not blindly. If they lead, they'll lead where, when and as appropriate. That's where their simple common sense kicks in. True minds also know their S.W.O.T. and keep improving / revising it; in order to become truly learned. They don't chuck spanners all over, in a kamikaze way.

 

You haven't upset me, Ditch, I just disagree with you on your claim that "there's no need to stand on the shoulders of others". I dispute your points in paragraphs two and three and we can discuss those further if you so choose. Finally, I am not a mind in turmoil and I'd be grateful if you'd tell me what I have claimed to have achieved.

 

Unintentional and I need to choose my words more carefully. As for the why, in this instance excitement and over enthusiasm and wishing to portray it via the written word, which can lose some of the sentiment along the way.



You'll need to read it again and have a think about it, not being condescending, need a dedicated smily for that.

 

........

 

I like how you removed the Newton quote.

For someone that's not in turmoil you sure come across as though you are, you appear to be searching for something, like so many others you feel as though you have found that in Jesus. I'm happy for you.

Enlightenment won't be found in the teachings or musings of others, read as much as you like, you'll only ever be well read, and yes you may be able to articulate those teachings and musings, quote and regurgitate them, seek solace in them until you become aligned with their thought process, at which point, YOU no longer exist.

 

Thanks, Ditch. It's just that it's not the first time I noted your condescending comments; as if to say that you know the best. However, with your explanation above ^, I understand that you do it spontaneously as opposed to intentionally.


I'm struggling with that hence the request. Please, if you could enlighten the ignorant. You would certainly know the best there, since you were the one who wrote it.

 

The spanners keep the wheels turning.

 

Not read it all yet so not sure what exactly contained inside and if it aligns exactly with what I'm getting at, but just thought I'd post it before I go off and read it and have a look for some more info.

Scratch that, it's not what I'm looking for.

 

*I haven't.

As for the rest of your post, well I gave my life to Jesus almost half a decade ago, so in a sense your final point is a salient one.

Lastly, salvation isn't achieved by the saved, it is a gift from the Saviour. Amazing Grace!

 

Metaphorical ones turn the wheels nonsensically, to be honest. Wheels go into the direction of the non-direction, with some very crude efforts of such self-glorifying, deluded spanners.

 

 

Ok here we go, fire with fire and all that, I'll come at you from an angle or should that be angel you'll understand.

http://www.scandalon.co.uk/philosophy/plato_cave.htm

Still not what I was looking for, but it will do for now, it's a bloody minefield out there ont tinternet.

 

I do like the way your mind works

No mis-direction more re-direction, after all it's no fun when someone tells you the answers.

Nothing wrong with a bit of crude self glorification, there are entire belief systems built around it.

 

LOL


May I still request you to enlighten on that paragraph involving peanuts and monkey business, Ditch? Do it when you have time. I look forward to your explanation.

 

Glad you posted this link on order to explain your exclusive post up there, Ditch. Otherwise, I thought you had dipped this thread into deeper obscurity than the religion itself.

Come on, James! Fight fire with fire! This thread is on another level now!

 

Not sure what your point is, but we've done Plato's Cave on here before.

https://www.scoobynet.com/924322-the...l#post10477982

 

That sums up a hell of a lot of my thoughts on the subject to be honest. The false confidence of the educated is something I find deeply irritating. It's been a long standing argument at work, a lot of our graduates think they're all that because they have degrees when in reality the apprentices are far better technicians/engineers.

 

I wouldn't call one mention on a thread about the Matrix "Doing Plato" your scholar mates in the cave would proper pour scorn on you for that description.

And we digress, I was more aiming towards his connection with the formation of modern christian beliefs, Platonism, neoplatonism.