Relevance

Maggi Dawn has written about being relevant – that true history, true theology, true knowledge of any sort is that which speaks to everyone, not simply the academic. Writing only for the academic is narrow; writing for everyone is generous. She quotes CS Lewis (one of my own favourite writers on religion) as saying “if you do not listen to Theology, that will not mean that you have no ideas about God. It will mean that you have a lot of wrong ones”. In other words, those who think about their faith (or their area of study in any field) must communicate that as best they can, as widely as they can. Otherwise their own knowledge becomes buried in the mass of ignorance and falsehood that grows up where knowledge is absent.
This phenomenon is easily seen whenever people talk about the subject of the day (whatever that is today). The same old opinions are spouted, leaving one breathless with the gulf that exists between two people. It becomes impossible to address single issues (homosexuality, divorce, government, war and peace, justice, whatever) because of the basic assumptions that are completely hidden even from the person who holds them. It is essential that people are not left in ignorance about their own beliefs. Not everyone feels the need to study things in depth, but I believe that everyone needs to be able to see beneath the surface. Otherwise, we are open to manipulation from whoever can speak with the loudest voice.

pax et bonum

Article posted at 2:44pm on 11 February 2005
Category: Faith, Musing