My classes have been working on the problem of definitions of late. Somedays I think they want to jump me when they come up with a word to explain the word they were trying to define, and I ask them what that word means. For example:
Me: What is truth?
Them: Truth is a fact.
Me: OK. What's a fact?
Them: Facts are reality.
Me: Fine. What's reality?
Them: AHHHHHHHH! Kill Mr. Leigh!!!!
The other day I encountered a question that, though I doubt it would do them much good, still deserves asking...If you're walking out of a building with an automatic door opener (based on a motion detector) and as you walk confidently towards the outside, fully expecting the door to open...it doesn't...does that mean you don't exist?
I never thought I would end up playing chicken with a door...and lose.
Sigh.
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5 comments:
Soo.... what IS truth, anyway?
Idiots who don't know the answer to things hide behind questions. Quit hiding. And stop being so mean to kids.
Idiots ask questions? Hm. The world has much to learn from the wisdom of Anonymous man!
Wow, you're so good at quoting a simple sentence: idiots who don't know the answer to things hide behind questions.
You ask questions ad infinitum because you're a coward who likes to inflict intellectual pain upon those in their tender years. It makes you feel big. That's my diagnosis.
This is Chris' devoted wife, so upfront I admit bias, but I just wanted to address the concern of Mr/Ms Anonymous. Questions are scary, especially when the simplest question, one you took for granted you knew the answer to, shakes your foundation and leaves you speechless. It's frightening because it means that we don't have the answers to "life" all wrapped up with a bow. It can be especially scary for young people who developmentally have only recently developed the ability to abstract. Growing up in a Christian home, children are taught the "answers" from their parents, and rightly so. The trouble is when we become adults we need to know why we believe what we believe or the truth will have no strength to hold us up when adversity comes. We must, if we are to truly "know" anything, dare to admit that we don't know why we believe and set about to figure it out. The truth is that often we come back to the answer our parents supplied us with when we were young...but now it means something. Sometimes we don't, but that is ok too, parents would be the first to admit this.
My favorite prof once challenged me with this observation: if I'm afraid to ask something I love, questions -- to challenge its validity -- isn't that because in my heart of hearts I doubt that it could take it? But if it's not true, do we really want it? Even Christ supports this view. After all, it was he who said not to expect virtue of non-believers. What good is virtue to those who's time is now? If heaven and hell are a myth; if God's purpose for us is vapor; and if all we have is the 80 years that make our life-time -- why love my neighbor as my self; why sacrifice our lives upon the alter of our love for Him?
All that to say, questions feel threatening because they are. It has been said of Socrates that he had no compassion. That he asked questions to people's demise. He would ask questions until the respondent could go no further, and then he would leave them there...wherever there was. It is Plato who refuses to leave people adrift. In Chris' case, his questions are motivated by his love for his students mediated by his love for the Lord. His questions should feel frightening, but I know that he does not intend to lead lemmings to a precipice and ask them to jump. He intends to lead his students further up and further in.
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