Guess What I Learned Today?

I have a confession.

My name is Kristi and I have philogia.

No, that is not some strange disease or skin rash. It is the Greek word for the love of learning and I have a bad case of it. Philology today means the study of literary texts and linguistics, but in old Greek it meant the love of learning and literature. See- we are learning something all ready.

I'm a learning addict. I crave learning something all the time. Like all last week studying the lesson for Sunday school (mind you- I'm not the teacher) on the contrast between Cain and Enoch, their obedience, willingness, and purpose of heart. Then tie in the father of King Lamoni in Alma 22 and I was in heaven. And reading fours books at the same time, depending on where I am in the house, in my car, etc. And I just learned the other day about the "pink lakes" of the world that are caused by the presence of algae that produces carotenoids.

You all probably knew that about me already, but when I finally just accept it then it's not so overwhelming when I keep finding things I want to go back to school for, or get training in. I've got a list a mile long of everything I want to study, practice, assimilate, etc. I want to go to cosmetology school, finish my teaching degree, and learn eight more languages just to mention a few. But just reading or learning isn't enough- I have to apply it.

Going to BYU for my freshmen year, a book called "Learning in the Light of Faith" was required reading and it has shaped my perspective on learning and scholarship through the lens of faith and discipleship. It taught me that my love of learning was a divine trait, one I inherited from a Heavenly Father who loves knowledge infinitely. The Lord sees no conflict between faith and learning in a broad curriculum:

". . . that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand;

Of things both in heaven and in earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the nations, and the judgments which are on the land; and a knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms. . . .

And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning even by study and also by faith.(D&C 88:78-79, 118.)

Just last night at work, one of my coworkers (aware of my religious beliefs) asked me if I had seen the Ham/Nye debate which launched a discussion on faith and science. We talked about learning through one method doesn't make it better than the other and how not being open-minded enough to accept truth from another perspective leaves us ignorant. I shared my experience as a scientist and how the more I learn about science, the deeper my faith in God becomes.

One of my favorite talks is by Elder Neal A. Maxwell called "The Disciple-Scholar" in which he points out the gradations of truth:

 "There is no democracy among truths. They are not of equal significance. These gradations might be represented geometrically by a wide circle. The outer edges of the circle would include truths which are accurate descriptions of reality. These facts, such as airline schedules and exchange rates, have only a momentary utility and relevancy, a short shelf life. They are useful, and they cannot be ignored, but they are simply not on the same footing as other kinds of truth... The next concentric circle inward would include more important truths. These are proximate and important truths, however, not ultimate truths. Some of these, for instance, are verifiable by the very serviceable scientific method. These truths can be very useful and valuable. For instance, in the realm of astrophysics they tell us much about the what and how of the universe, but they cannot (and do not even presume to) tell us why it exists. In this same middle circle, the suburbs, so to speak, there is a churning and revising among some of these truths. Life in the suburbs may mean one can be "ever learning" but still "never able to come to a knowledge of the truth" (2 Tim. 3:7). Even so, these truths are important and valued. In the very center of the circle of truth lie the "deep things of God" (1 Cor. 2:10, 14). These come to us only by revelation from God, and they clearly have a greater significance than other truths and fleeting facts. These truths concern things as they really were, really are, and really will be (D&C 93:24). There is constancy, not churning, among these strategic truths. These truths, for instance, are revealed from God and tell us why the universe exists. They are also very personal and crucial, such as is contained in Enoch's exclamation (see Moses 7:30). They represent the highest order of truth. These truths are likewise verifiable. Jesus describes how: "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself" (John 7:17; see also Alma 32:26-43). Thus we constantly need to distinguish between the truths which are useful and those which are crucial, and between truths which are important and those which are eternal. "

This post has turned into more than I thought when I started, but it's that just the beauty of the evolution of thought and learning? I meant to just gush about my adoration of learning, but I guess the heart of that thought was the true joy I get from learning any and all truths- scientific and eternal, literary and linguistic, social and spiritual.