Christian Intelligence

[darkbeaver]

There is a bright, red admonition that reads: "Please choose something descriptive!!" next to the title box at the beginning of the thread, DB. That was the main inspiration behind the thread title "Christian Intelligence" : )

So you thought intelligent was a good descriptor of Christian? If you had meant those who adhered to the natural philosophy prior to the carnalizing Christian plague it would have been correct for it was the success of that disease that substituted faith for intelligence. And now they worship matter instead of mind.

The Intelligent Christians were exterminated by the savage flesh worshiping usupers.

 

[Motar]

So you thought intelligent was a good descriptor of Christian?

The OP:

"God is no fonder of intellectual slackers than of any other slackers. If you are thinking of becoming a Christian, I warn you are embarking on something which is going to take the whole of you, brains and all. But, fortunately, it works the other way round. Anyone who is honestly trying to be a Christian will soon find his intelligence being sharpened: one of the reasons why it needs no special education to be a Christian is that Christianity is an education itself. That is why an uneducated believer like Bunyan was able to write a book that has astonished the whole word." (C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianty)

C.S. Lewis thought intelligent was a good descriptor of Christianity, DB. I posted his descriptor as a means of generating discussion because this subject interests me.

 

[coldstream]

Tom Harpur On The Pagan Roots Of Christianity - YouTube



Of course not; that is my point. But christianity is always presented in argument as a monolithic set of beliefs to which all should adhere, even though those standards cannot be articulated. The OP implies some external standard.

Tom Harpur is an ordained Anglican minister.. who believe the Christianity is a legacy of the Egyptian Cult of Osiris. 'nuff said about Anglicanism.. and its New Age rituals (including 'blessing' of same sex 'unions'.

 

[darkbeaver]

So you thought intelligent was a good descriptor of Christian?

The OP:

"God is no fonder of intellectual slackers than of any other slackers. If you are thinking of becoming a Christian, I warn you are embarking on something which is going to take the whole of you, brains and all. But, fortunately, it works the other way round. Anyone who is honestly trying to be a Christian will soon find his intelligence being sharpened: one of the reasons why it needs no special education to be a Christian is that Christianity is an education itself. That is why an uneducated believer like Bunyan was able to write a book that has astonished the whole word." (C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianty)

C.S. Lewis thought intelligent was a good descriptor of Christianity, DB. I posted his descriptor as a means of generating discussion because this subject interests me.

I know that. What would make for a slightly better discussion of course is if you would provide a descriptor of the word christian since that is the matter at hand.

Thank you for salting the stew Walter.

 

[Motar]

What would make for a slightly better discussion of course is if you would provide a descriptor of the word christian since that is the matter at hand.

In my experience, Spade, defining Christian is easy enough - the Greek word Χριστιανός (Christianos)—meaning "follower of Christ."
Defining Christ is just as simple —comes from the Greek word Χριστός (Christos)—meaning "anointed one."

This is a cut and paste from a previous post, DB.

 

[darkbeaver]

What would make for a slightly better discussion of course is if you would provide a descriptor of the word christian since that is the matter at hand.

In my experience, Spade, defining Christian is easy enough - the Greek word Χριστιανός (Christianos)—meaning "follower of Christ."
Defining Christ is just as simple —comes from the Greek word Χριστός (Christos)—meaning "anointed one."

This is a cut and paste from a previous post, DB.

I should have asked for the meaning of christ of course.

 

[Motar]

I should have asked for the meaning of christ of course.

This is the etymological meaning of Christ, DB:

Christ (n.) title given to Jesus of Nazareth, Old English crist (by 830, perhaps 675), from Latin Christus, from Greek khristos "the anointed" (translation of Hebrew mashiah; see messiah), noun use of verbal adjective of khriein "to rub, anoint" (see chrism). The Latin term drove out Old English Hæland "healer, savior," as the preferred descriptive term for Jesus. Online Etymology Dictionary

If you would like a Biblical meaning, begin with reading through the gospels.

The synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke) emphasize the humanity of Jesus. John's gospel highlights the divinity of Christ. Matthew's record was written to the Jews (religious folk), Mark's gospel was directed towards the Romans (politically-minded), and Luke's account was designed for the Greeks (intellectuals).

 

[Motar]

In what way(s) does Christianity sharpen intelligence? In what way(s) is Christianity an education itself?

Practical Intelligence = "Common sense" capabilities; the ability to solve problems & get things done Theory of Social Intelligence

"Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road." (Luke 10:4 NIV)

"Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?” “Nothing,” they answered. He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one." (Luke 22:35-36 NIV)

When Jesus first commissioned missionaries in Luke 10, he advised them to pack light, knowing that they would be welcomed. When religious opposition surged (Luke 22), Jesus not only advised the apostles to pack provisions, but protection as well.

What other practical instructions are present in Christianity? In what other ways does Christianity contribute to practical intelligence?

 

[hunboldt]

In what way(s) does Christianity sharpen intelligence? In what way(s) is Christianity an education itself?

Practical Intelligence = "Common sense" capabilities; the ability to solve problems & get things done Theory of Social Intelligence

"Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road." (Luke 10:4 NIV)

"Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?” “Nothing,” they answered. He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one." (Luke 22:35-36 NIV)

When Jesus first commissioned missionaries in Luke 10, he advised them to pack light, knowing that they would be welcomed. When religious opposition surged (Luke 22), Jesus not only advised the apostles to pack provisions, but protection as well.

What other practical instructions are present in Christianity? In what other ways does Christianity contribute to practical intelligence?

Jesus was addressing Canadian investors...

 

[darkbeaver]

Jesus was addressing Canadian investors...

Thankyou for the laugh of the day. He was a profit there is no doubt now. The cloak phase of the recovery seems torn and waning, we yet seemith to abidith liken inith the valley of the shadow of debt.

 

[Motar]

Dr. Karl Albrecht's six primary dimensions of intelligence:

Abstract = Conceptual reasoning, manipulating verbal, mathematical & symbolic information
Social = Interacting successfully with others in various contexts
Practical = "Common sense" capabilities; the ability to solve problems & get things done
Emotional = Self-insight & the ability to regulate or manage one's reactions to experience
Aesthetic = Appreciation of form, design and relationships
Kinesthetic = Whole-body competence, e.g. singing, dancing, flying an airplane

Theory of Social Intelligence

Applying Dr. Karl Albrecht's six dimensions of human intelligence to Christianity. Three remain. Emotional intelligence next : )

 

[darkbeaver]

The ancients had seven levels perfecting in the octave.

 

[Motar]

The ancients had seven levels perfecting in the octave.

Thanks, DB.

"Professor Gardner has proposed various categories of intelligence over the years of his research, typically suggesting seven of them. Inasmuch as he and others have recently been rearranging the categories and in some cases debating about how many intelligences we have, Karl Albrecht has taken the liberty of recasting them into a simpler model which is useful in business and professional settings. According to Karl Albrecht's simplified interpretation, we can think of human beings as having six primary dimensions of intelligence..."

This is a cut and paste from a previous post.

 

[darkbeaver]

Professor Gardner's web site makes him out to be a common motivation artist. I also think it's way to late to hope for any fadish new wave intelligence boosters to save today,s wicked wicked business persons or professional. At this time they exist in and on the slime and gore that they have willingly helped create. Better to let hell instruct them.

 

[Motar]

Professor Gardner's web site makes him out to be a common motivation artist. I also think it's way to late to hope for any fadish new wave intelligence boosters to save today,s wicked wicked business persons or professional. At this time they exist in and on the slime and gore that they have willingly helped create. Better to let hell instruct them.

Thanks for your insights, DB. You may be confusing Professor Howard Gardner and Dr. Karl Albrecht:

Howard Gardner is currently Hobbs Professor of Cognition and Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and adjunct professor of neurology at the Boston University School of Medicine. http://infed.org/mobi/howard-gardner-multiple-intelligences-and-education/


Karl is a management consultant, futurist, speaker, and a prolific author. In his 20-year career he has worked with many kinds of business organizations in a wide range of industries, world-wide. He has consulted with senior executives and lectured to audiences on all inhabited continents. He is the author of more than 25 books on various aspects of business performance. As Chairman of Karl Albrecht International, he oversees the practical application of his ideas through a consulting group, a seminar firm, and a publishing company. About Karl Albrecht

In his theory of social intelligence, Dr. Albrecht credited Professor Gardner's multiple intelligences theory as the basis for his own model of human intelligence which he reorganized into a simpler model for use in business and professional settings.

 

[darkbeaver]

They are both plainly con artists and you are either conned or selling.

 

[Motar]

In what way(s) does Christianity sharpen intelligence? In what way(s) is Christianity an education itself?

Emotional Intelligence = Self-insight & the ability to regulate or manage one's reactions to experience Theory of Social Intelligence

"A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart." (Luke 6:45 NLT)

Jesus instructs his followers about the relationship between emotions and conduct, encouraging a healthy emotional appetite as a means to emotional wellbeing and living.

In what other ways does Christianity contribute to emotional intelligence?

 

[cj44]

In what way(s) does Christianity sharpen intelligence? In what way(s) is Christianity an education itself?

Emotional Intelligence = Self-insight & the ability to regulate or manage one's reactions to experience Theory of Social Intelligence

"A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart." (Luke 6:45 NLT)

Jesus instructs his followers about the relationship between emotions and conduct, encouraging a healthy emotional appetite as a means to emotional wellbeing and living.

In what other ways does Christianity contribute to emotional intelligence?

Motar: Stick with your original question. With the "emotional intelligence" question you have springboarded into a pyschoanalysis stew. As for your original question, "In what ways does Christianity sharpen intelligence?" I'll offer an answer - a sharpened mind is needed to battle self, world and Satan. I think Lewis speaks of intelligence here as defined as spiritual discernment. A Christian - a person who has faith in Christ's work on the cross - is blessed with the Holy Spirit as teacher. Being a new creation, the Christian sees and has knowledge of things that were not known while still an unbeliever. Intelligence defined as the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills is a trait that has no religious bounds. Though, I think when God purposes it, a granting of a sharper mind is most certainly given and certainly new knowledge is given throughout the Christian's life as part of sanctification. To be clear, I do not refer to "new knowledge" as adding to Scripture. Rather as discernment of the written Word of God. And for those that want to argue about the Bible being true - If there is a God, is he not capable of keeping and defending a book throughout the ages? Or is that too tough a task for Him. It is so simple, we all often trip right over it.

 

[JLM]

In what way(s) is Christianity an education itself?

If the text book used is the Bible?

 

[Spade]

Bishop John Spong on the bible as a source of truth - YouTube