One of the many controversies throughout the centuries has been that of the conflict between religion and education. Some believe that education and knowledge is antithetical to the faith. Others believe that education strengthens the faith. There are many in the faith community who take a rather defensive posture towards education, believing that the accumulation of knowledge will result in the deterioration and erosion of the basic tenets of the faith. They quote those Scriptural passages that appear to suggest that "much study is affliction of the faith," or that much learning makes one "mad," or "crazy." Others believe that education enables us to articulate the faith in more clear and effective ways. They tend to think of having a clearly, well thought-out faith."
I have personally known people within the faith community who appear to be allergic to new information and knowledge. Some of these persons tend to think that they are "safer" by remaining uninformed, rather than by being exposed to the vast array of knowledge in the humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. They fear that knew knowledge will threaten and call into question what they have been believing all their lives. They will say things like "God wants our hearts, not our minds." Without realizing it, what they are saying is that God wants us to float on "cloud nine," and to put our intellect away in a draw.
In his many years of experience in the profession of the ministry, this writer has also known many people that sincerely believe that training is not necessary to enter this profession. Their notion is that the only thing that one needs is to be "called" by God and "anointed by the Holy Spirit," and everything will be okay. I remember one of my past pastors who had heard that I had received a scholarship to go to seminary full-time. His attitude was, "we need to be careful, because the devil also gives blessings." His attitude was that I should remain ignorant and uninformed, rather than to avail myself of the blessing that God had given me to further my training for the profession of the ministry. Many of these faith leaders feel threatened by their parishioners becoming educated and informed because they fear that they will "take over" their positions.
On the other hand, there are other faith communities that strongly believe that their leaders should be well-trained and well-equipped in order to carry out in a faithful and efficient manner the task that God has called them to. They believe that if people who enter other professions are well-trained, that those "called by God," should not settle for less.
From my own experience, I have been the beneficiary of both types of leadership. My first pastor had a second or third-grade education, but he knew the Bible "from cover to cover," and as a radio Baptist preacher once said, "he even knew the cover." For the initial years of my spiritual journey, I came under the leadership of those whose formal education was very limited, and who nonetheless, had a sincere faith and with all their limitations laid down a very good foundation for many of us. In the last three decades, I have been blessed and privileged to come under the leadership of many men and women of God who are not only called, but also well-trained. They have enabled me to see the faith in its broader dimensions and implications.
Can you share with us as to where you stand relative to the role between religion and education?Should we advocate for and promote more education in our faith communities or should we assume that "never the twain shall meet?" Our faith and knowledge allies or enemies? Share your perspective with us.
Juan Ayala-Carmona
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