A favorite blog comment. Spiritual versus intellectual learning.

Over on the Mormanity blog, an anonymous poster, Pops, left the following comment. I think it worthy of being repeated here.

Start quote:

As I see it, there are two paths to truth: the intellectual path, or "reason", and the spiritual path.

Finding truth by either means requires great effort and rigor, given that we human beings have an almost unlimited capacity for self-deception. A casual approach to learning by either method will produce only a casual correspondence between one's "knowledge" and external truth.

[...]

One of the most important personal characteristics necessary for the discovery of truth is an awareness that one does not know it all. In addition, I suspect we would (will) be greatly surprised to find out the degree to which our tiny "knowledge" is tainted by its context -- its context being us ourselves, and the social, historical, physical, and spiritual context within which we exist. That is probably more true of our intellectual knowledge, but I suspect also true to some degree with our spiritual knowledge, or that we make distorted intellectual enhancements to our spiritual knowledge.

I believe that the spiritual pursuit of truth has vastly more promise than the intellectual pursuit. Spiritual learning places one's spirit in direct contact with external truth, whereas the intellect will always be separated from the external universe by fallible senses.

The intellectual path, while not as promising, is also very important. Most of our communications with each other reside within the domain of the intellect. We can speak of spiritual learning and spiritual experiences, but we are constrained to do so using intellectual means and in terms of the intellect.

The spiritual pursuit of truth is a difficult enterprise. Many are not aware that it exists, and it is not something that can be directly shared with others. Also, the spirit is a delicate instrument that can easily be drowned out or distorted by other influences.

Those who have not experienced spiritual learning are not likely to "get" what those who have experienced it are talking about. They may view you and your "testimony" as nothing more than irrational gobbledygook. Some believe that it is a false concept -- that it is a form of self-deception. But those who have experienced it know that it is not. Joseph Smith described it as "pure intelligence" flowing into you.

The process of learning to learn spiritually, also known as spiritual conversion, is the re-awakening of the spirit. It cannot occur in an atmopshere of hate, arrogance, fear, or contention, but only in an environment of love, humility, trust, and mutual respsect. It requires circumstances which provide opportunities for the sensing of something beyond the intellect and reason, and is enhanced by the assistance of a guide to point out what is happening, what the process is, what activities will enhance it and which will inhibit it, and, in general, how to embark on the great adventure of spiritual learning and growth.

Those who have experienced spiritual learning have a deep desire to share it with others, to teach them how to find it for themselves. It is not unlike trying to describe sight to those who have had their eyes closed since birth, if you can imagine it.

I marvel at the Savior's response to those who betrayed him, who mocked him, tortured him, and crucified him. He understood they acted out of blindness, and so he did not allow their actions to diminish his love for them. Would that I could be as he is.

End quote.