Wisdom's Downward Path

Eskimo: "If I did not know about God and sin, would I go to hell?"

Priest:  "No, not if you did not know."

Eskimo:  "Then why did you tell me?"

-- Annie Dillard, American author

Is there wisdom without experience?  Was Christ righteous or wise?

If we believe Christian scholars, Jesus led a morally correct life.  If this is so, where did he gain the knowledge and understanding, the wisdom that only life experience can offer?  The experience and wisdom of the ages would have been his at birth, from God.  Was it?

If this is so, then is it true for all of us at birth, born without sin, and children of God?  But so were Adam and Eve, yet they showed little wisdom, the wisdom of knowing not to fall from grace.  Children may be born without sin, but many quickly find their way into trouble without some form of guidance.  From our teachers, pastors, parents, and others which comprise our "support group", we learn how not to fall.  What happens if we do fall?  What happens when we taste the experience of sin?  How do we surmount the excitement, the rush of desire and the forbidden?  Do we lean on our support group?  What if they have never fallen; never experienced the forbidden fruit?

There is righteousness without experience, but can there be true wisdom?  What does a celibate priest know of marriage or brothels?  If he has held fast to his vows he knows nothing of importance that would aid in counseling.  Sadly, he may find bingo, alcohol, and smoking might be a little more to his liking, though these, also, do nothing for the pious image.  So who is the better shepherd, one who has led a righteous life having always traveled an upward path of faith where experience is limited to only that which is seen and heard?  Or one who has traveled the downward path, experienced sin and surmounted it, rising above it to climb up the other side all the more wiser for the journey?

I think the righteous man travels a straight and narrow path to heaven, whereas the wise man has the experience to guide and minister to the flock.  He has a duty to do this that the righteous man may never understand.  The wise man has a debt to pay, a debt to God and his fellows, a "toll" for traveling that path and experiencing sin.

If there is no sin in the congregation, of what use is the pastor?  If all the land is green, lush pasture, what use is the shepherd?  But, if sin presents itself, who better to recognize it than the repentant sinner brandishing the sword of true wisdom and the shield of experience?  The question I ask, is his faith stronger for the journey, or just different?

In a confrontation with evil, the holy man can give no quarter, and his faith will bring his martyrdom as evil sends him to God without mercy.  The wise man, on the other hand, will give no quarter, show no mercy, and use all of his experience and wisdom in a bloody battle he knows he may not win.  The holy man is our pathfinder; the wise man has our back.  A priest that “has my back” does not instill me with much confidence.  In the face of evil do you send in the lamb, or the lion?

What then is to be said for those of little or no faith?

Truly blessed are the godless that protect the helpless, the atheist that gives their life in the defense of the defenseless.  They have no faith, no expectation of an afterlife or a kingdom of heaven.  Theirs is truly a selfless decision of sacrifice.  If they have traveled the downward path and returned, they will have done it on their own, without a faith in God.  Is this a stronger wisdom?  Perhaps, but consider this:

"In the face of evil, wisdom without faith is shallow and a man without faith is poorly armed."

As always, this is just an opinion, a passing thought that might give rise to creative discussion.  This one could be way off base.  We all have an opinion, or at the very least a thought.  Please feel free to share yours.