Killing Curiosity
by libr8tr
Last month, my wife, daughter and I visited my wife’s family and friends in her hometown. It was a fairly long stay, and I spent some time with a mutual friend who has a one-year-old son.
We had some pizza and talked about different things, none too deep, until he started talking about how having a son has renewed a questioning spirit within him. Now, he wants to know the “whys” in life. From infant baptism to rainbows, he has a newfound curiosity about life. Once he started to open up about these questions, the deeper conversation began.
It is in these conversations that we find ourselves connecting on a more deeper level with others. We can discover, grow, and even find new questions that we hadn’t considered.
Strangely, the current American education system (broad brush strokes here) attempts to kill curiosity. Educators are more interested (once again, broad strokes) in whether you can recite information rather than how you think or what questions you come up with.
The saying, “curiosity killed the cat” is a mantra in our culture, and a foolish one at that. If you analyze that statement, it is saying that curiosity is dangerous and we should be afraid of it. Well, I can tell you that a cat’s curiosity causes it to live not die. They experience new things and learn about their environment. There is an element of danger for the animal, but the positives usually outweigh the negatives.
Curiosity is also “enlivening” to us. Taking rabbit trails is bad if you’re a soldier, but if you’re a scientist, it can mean new discoveries that help cure disease.
Some theologians take rabbit trails, too. They have an investment in finding the truth, even if that confronts their reason or their articles of faith. Michael Spencer, who was a Baptist minister (and the “Internet Monk”), created a blog in which honest Christians from different denominational viewpoints could ask questions and interact without fear of attack. Although he was a Baptist (he passed away last month), he was open to many different points of view, and was even able to criticize his own denominational articles. This allowed for a vibrant and engaging discussion.
I am not saying that we should ignore doctrine (sound teaching). Many theologians thrive off of the “sureness” of the doctrines of their church. That is necessary and helpful. But, to be true to the roots of the Reformation, protestants are called to “Semper Reformandi” (always reforming). This means that we can ask questions that aren’t adequately answered by our statements of faith. We can ask questions of the Scripture (there are so many!!) and not be afraid that our faith will be unbraided. God, our God is the God of depth.
Examination, questioning, and sorting through theological puzzles deepens our faith, and causes those around us to deepen their faith (except in the cases or arrogance or disinterest). These mental activities are the interior motivations that God has placed within us. It is the Devil who wants to destroy these very human impulses to grow. If he can manage to keep us in the superficial realm, then he has effectively made us ignorant fools. If he can drown out these impulses with T.V., politics, gossip, or any number of seemingly interesting activities, then he can steal away the years of our lives that we could have pursued wisdom.
Almighty God, please empower us to overcome superficiality and spiritual arrogance. We long to understand and know you more deeply. We thank you that Jesus Christ is the Alpha and Omega of Wisdom. Please inspire us, feed us, and reward our efforts to seek to understand your word more deeply. To You be the Glory forever and ever, Amen.
Justified Journal 
Killing curiosity seems to be endemic to many parts of the world. Here in the Middle East amongst the local culture curiosity is not encouraged because this is a Westernize way of thinking and may cloud their minds. Children are taught parrot fashion in schools (not all)and still expected to grow in maturity in reading writing and arithmetic.
Curiosity is something put there by God to arm us with wisdom and understanding in order to grow stronger in life. Curiosity lends life to a lifeless object and thank goodness for the internet where curiosity can be satisfied. God Bless.
As a Lutheran educator (in the parish as a DCE), when I set out to do graduate work the assumption was that I would attend one of the schools in the Concordia University System. The assumption was that one in my position would most naturally go to one of “our” schools. That was not the education that I wanted. I did not want to have additional study from those with whom it would be assumed that I already agreed. Instead I went to Trinity International University for my MA and am completing doctoral work at Talbot (where I am the token Lutheran in the program). As much as I enjoy reading Lutheran theology and would like to see more work done in the field of Christian education by Lutherans for a wider audience, I could not simply take a second and third helping of the same. John I whole heartedly concur with your assessment that learning and curiosity go hand in hand. There is a need to dip one’s toes in other streams of thought, if for no other reason than to gain a greater appreciation of the one they are already swimming in.
Dave, I think you’re right. There’s a richness added to our lives when we engage with those who hold to different perspectives. And, there’s a richness added to theirs. Myopia is a human tendency because we like comfort. Choosing discomfort can cause our peripheral vision to stretch out.
Excellent, Brother! Soooo does this mean you will be homeschooling your girls? 😉