Philosophies Of Learning

FRI., MAR. 29, 1996, 6:58 AM
FARM, STUDY

When the Fall semester of this year rolls around again you will, by your present plan, teach the Foundations class for the last time. In that experience you spend considerable time having them understand the differences and the relationships between three basic philosophies of learning. I am really not a philosopher, but I am concerned with matters of value so this morning, as you look out over a foggy landscape, I shall comment on how these three apply to Me, as teacher.

First, there is what you call a realist philosophy. In what ways am I a realist? Well, you have here on your presently cluttered desk a book titled The Living Bible. This contains the “facts” of the faith, built around Me, the Triune God. It is a story, but it is presented as factual. First, there is just Me, the Almighty God, coming to a group of people that I love but also enjoy chastising. Then I am born into the earth as a Jewish baby, grow into Jesus, the man, (very quickly from a factual perspective), gather disciples, preach, heal, and finally get myself into a position so that I can give My earth life for the sins of all of you. I did that, and out of all of this came the Church, My Body reformed.

Finally, I come as the Holy Spirit, to guide the Church, particularly in assembling and canonizing these Holy Scriptures. These Scriptures mention Me as an aspect of God in human life, but there aren’t many facts about Me, actually. The Book does identify Me as a teacher and counselor, and I do use this Holy Bible and the writings of many past and present servants to help you learn the facts of the faith. You haven’t learned much, of all there is to know about humans and God, but you’re above average for a Presbyterian Christian… not a great distinction, but notable.

As what you call an experimentalist I teach you through the experiences of life. You have learned about joy by being in situations in which you feel genuine joy. You learned about death from some actual deaths, particularly Peter’s. You have learned about pain by experiencing pain. And, whether you realize it or not I am guiding and teaching you in these life experiences.

You can’t know much about life as a person of color living in the ghetto area of a city. You can’t know much about life as a native American living on a reservation in wintry Montana. You can learn some facts about other ways of living, but real knowing comes from actually living life in a place, doing what you do. So I try to have you learn about Me, using these life experiences as the means.

And I am a philosophical idealist. I want you to learn from Me, through a personal relationship involving mind, consciousness and spirit. Because you have come to know Me rather well you can say, “My Teachings tell Me…”, which is a timid way of affirming that “The Holy Spirit has taught me that…” For you, I am a Person, not just one Who is serious and judgmental but One Who is full of fun, and the joy of being Holy Spirit here in the earth.