Humanity knows we need to be physically protected from the elements, that the world is not naturally hospitable to us. If it is 10 degrees outside, a wise person knows that they must wear a coat in order to avoid freezing; when the sun is ferociously beaming down on you, wear sunscreen. These ideas make common sense to us because we see the nasty effects of not doing so -- hypothermia and skin cancer respectively. However, I do not think people realize the same holds true for one's intellect.
Intellects need to be protected too, just like our bodies do. We need to know what intellectual environments are unhealthy for us, and where we are likely to get "sick" if over-exposed to the inclement weather. Where are we supposed to "dress up" when going into foreign, inhospitable environments?
Interestingly enough, to continue the metaphor, we know that we can run outside for a quick second when it is freezing in order to throw something away both because we are sufficiently warm from inside and are going back inside momentarily. Analogously, we can be put into hostile, foreign intellectual environments for a moment without full-on insulation if we are sufficiently "warm" from environments that indeed warm us and if we know we are going back to our natural habitat soon after being exposed.
This analogue is quite important for us in a postmodern context where questioning beliefs are the key. To some extent being open to new ideas is a good idea, but at some point I must realize that I hold belief x -- Jesus is my savior and leader -- and that that is my warm house. Once agreeing upon that, I can do all the dueling with other mindsets I want because my base will remain warm.
From what do you need to be intellectually protected? What spaces are inhospitable to your beliefs? What do you do with them given your (embraced) particularities?
Intellects need to be protected too, just like our bodies do. We need to know what intellectual environments are unhealthy for us, and where we are likely to get "sick" if over-exposed to the inclement weather. Where are we supposed to "dress up" when going into foreign, inhospitable environments?
Interestingly enough, to continue the metaphor, we know that we can run outside for a quick second when it is freezing in order to throw something away both because we are sufficiently warm from inside and are going back inside momentarily. Analogously, we can be put into hostile, foreign intellectual environments for a moment without full-on insulation if we are sufficiently "warm" from environments that indeed warm us and if we know we are going back to our natural habitat soon after being exposed.
This analogue is quite important for us in a postmodern context where questioning beliefs are the key. To some extent being open to new ideas is a good idea, but at some point I must realize that I hold belief x -- Jesus is my savior and leader -- and that that is my warm house. Once agreeing upon that, I can do all the dueling with other mindsets I want because my base will remain warm.
From what do you need to be intellectually protected? What spaces are inhospitable to your beliefs? What do you do with them given your (embraced) particularities?
