Thursday, February 24, 2005

hum...

Is pursuing higher education selfish?

14 comments:

Amanda/Mandie said...

Not at all. The only thing we can take with us to the next life is our knowledge yeah?

Judge of the Whetten's said...

I would say it is if your doing it for the wrong reasons. To pursue education to help others is not, but if you do it for worldly gain then it is very selfish. Going to class while you get a sitter for the child I think is a little selfish. You may rationalize it by saying you want to provide a better life for the child, but really the best one you could give him would have you being there. Well that's just my thought and it most likely came out different then how it sounded in my head.

Kelsey said...

see the fact that we can take it with us seems the most selfish reason. I came to better myself. I want to help people along the way but I think a lot of myself. Maybe that's why i'm confuzed.

Judge of the Whetten's said...

I know how you feel. I want to be out setting the world on fire. Saving souls and improving life for everone, but I am one man. The thing is one dumb man can do very little. So that man(or in your case woman) needs an education to better help people. I would like to cure what ales people, but I don't know how. So I bite my tounge, swollow my pride and open my text book. In the persuit of whats right your always going to question yourself. Just ask of the lord, or if that doesn't work one of his followers. Bishop, parents, friends, even that random guy down the street with the werid eye. Each can give you a different point of view, but only the choice is yours to make.

Amanda/Mandie said...

Well... rereading my comment and others, I realized how myopic it was. In the end, the choice we make is one that helps us sleep at night yeah? Whether that mean that we're here because we want to help make a difference or whether it's for finding a husband/wife. Intent shows the worth of a person. But as is commonly said, "The road to Hell is paved by good intentions." Then does that mean our hearts and good intentions are worthless?

Bleh... sorry, I'm just adding to my own confusion. I know of one woman in my major who's graduating with me in June that's here because she wants to be an educated mother. To show her children how important college really is. As Judge said, in the end, it's a matter that should be taken up with the Lord. One of the most vindicating things to know is that Heavenly Father knows us so well, that He knows why we're doing what we're doing.

Whether it's getting an education or training in a vocation or just living life. If we strive to do the very best we know how to live, then as Latter day Saints, we will be blessed. These blessings do however come in ways that we do not expect. Talking philosophy always causes a rift to open inside of me, but the Lord comes and heals that rift in the end. Bring this question to Him. He'll guide you toward the answer that is locked away within you.

E.Marie said...

Nah. Go for it the more you know the more you can do.

a man from Saipan said...

No, progression is what it is all about.

Judge of the Whetten's said...

Also think about religious people and education. Studies show that the higher people go in education the less religious they are. Now that study differs a little with the LDS church but it still applies. People start to take the knowledge of man as the greater god, worshiping this god for many hours of the day and reading its scriptures more then the Lords. It's good to be learned and it's good to be wise, but what does it profit a man if he understands everything, but loses his soul.

Kelsey said...

I think I've heard Judge say that last comment before. hehehe. still works wonderfully. weird...now i'm thinkin is it selfish to want to go to the celestial kingdom? the way to get there isn't selfish but if that is our only motive...umm...

Kelsey said...

I think I've heard Judge say that last comment before. hehehe. still works wonderfully. weird...now i'm thinkin is it selfish to want to go to the celestial kingdom? the way to get there isn't selfish but if that is our only motive...umm...

Kelsey said...

I think I've heard Judge say that last comment before. hehehe. still works wonderfully. weird...now i'm thinkin is it selfish to want to go to the celestial kingdom? the way to get there isn't selfish but if that is our only motive...umm...

Vasu Chetty said...

Just to back up what Judge said, I used to think the pursuit of knowledge was probably the most important thing because of what Mandie said - it is the only thing we bring with us. But then I read Ecclesiastes 1:18, "For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow". For the longest time I never understood that, there were so many scriptures about knowledge being advantageous to our eternal progression and then this one. I realised that we need to focus on improving our spiritual well-being above all else. An education is important, but not if we forsake more important duties.

And Stuff,
~Vasu~

Fei said...

Yes, I think is a selfish thing. But who said that being selfish is always bad?

Before children learn how to share, they first need to develop a sense of ownership. So before learning selflessness, there needs to be room for one to pursue their interests and develop their potential.

You can't share something that you can't claim to be yours. Eternal progression is a very selfish thing. First you perfect yourself, then you help others get on that same path to perfection.

What would you claim be a "bad" reason for pursuing an education?

Vasu Chetty said...

Here's something I learned from the book review:

"A little learning is a dangerous thing; drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring: there shallow draughts intoxicate the brain, and drinking largely sobers us again. Alexander Pope (1688-1744)"

If we're going to learn, we better go the whole way or not bother at all. I would consider pursuing higher education as drinking deep.

Whatever your philosophy, you have but one life to live - so you better do with it what you think is best.

And Stuff,
~Vasu~