Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Good vs. Smart

So I am having a conversation with my mom, and she is telling me about a guy she knows at church, and she says, "he's a really good guy, but he's also really smart..." I just started laughing. She wasn't even able to finish her thought. It was just too hilarious to me.

Okay, so what does this mean?

Are smart people not good?

Are good people not smart?

I don't think this is something just isolated to my mom (don't ask about the mariachi music), cuz I see it all around. Is it that people are intimidated by intelligence? Or is it that intelligence leads to inquiry which leads to criticism which isn't nice or good? Or is it harsh agressive criticism masquarading as intelligence? What is going on here? I would hope I could be both good and smart. Is that even possible?


Anonymous said...

Oh, I know all about Mariachi music... I can feel the heat now... holy guacamole... its getting hot in here!

Your mom's comment is classic.

oh, this is tora by the way.

Stewart Van Buskirk said...

Ise geayuss ise be reelly goood.

Stewart Van Buskirk said...

Ok, so seriously this time. I am always intrigued by the strange dichotomy that exists within the church, where on the one hand we are told to get as much education as possible. On the other hand, we shouldn't become an intellectual, because that is "dangerous". It seems that we are told to "get smart, but not too smart". Somehow intelligence leads to wickedness.

Glenn Ostlund said...

I wouldn't say it's intriguing, per se. In 1993, Packer said the greatest threat to the church comes from the homosexuals, feminists, and intellectuals.

I love how the adjective "so-called" is used to describe intellectuals who have the nerve to ask questions about church history or doctrine and hold the answers to the same rigors of other academic inquiries.

No, actually... I don't love that at all.

It is a real struggle to maintain faith in that kind of environment -- it's hard, but it's not impossible. It sucks being villified for asking questions and not being satisfied with answers that told hold up well to scrutiny. Especially when at the heart of it all I really want to believe -- I really want to know -- and that is why I ask the questions and explore this stuff in the first place. Don't even let the intellectual camel put his nose into your tent, or you'll wind up out in th storm -- I guess.

Stewart Van Buskirk said...

I need an alias also. I used to use Valdimir back in high school. Maybe I'll bring that one back.

Glenn Ostlund said...

I was thinking "Cain" would be just fine -- or "Sasquatch" if you want to get technical. "Squatchie" for short.