Is books better than example? (priest, ritual, myth, experience)

[SoulTYPE]

Books are there to set the examples in most cases VIGIL. The Bible is like a school text book; the priests/preachers/monks whatever are the school teachers

[Master Vigil]

I suppose each have their advantages and disadvantages like everything else. Thanks for the replies.

[cardero]

Master Vigil writes: But is religion and spirituality something that should be learned academically, or is it something that should be learned by experience.

I have many books about religion and spirituality. Sometimes they can be informative especially if you are using them as an introduction to a subject. If it is GOD that you are speaking about, I always found it helpful to go right to the source. If you learn about GOD from a book all you are going to understand is that author’s relationship to God (many religions are based on other people’s relationships with God) and you will not be establishing or strengthening your own REALationship to GOD.

[Master Vigil]

And it would be worse if you go to a teacher who only learnt about anothers idea. Wouldn't it be better to go to someone to learn who has that REALationship (as you like to call it) with the divine?

What I wondered is if one would rather learn about or become. But now I see one needs books to learn about which they want to become first. But that has no bearing on the real spirituality of it. Once you figure out what "sounds" good. The book has no more purpose. Becoming is experiential and a book cannot help you become.

[cardero]

Master Vigil writes: Wouldn't it be better to go to someone to learn who has that REALationship (as you like to call it) with the divine?

I am afraid that all you will glean from them is their understanding of their “divine”. You can learn of their relationship but you cannot live vicariously through it. This is not a REAL REALationship. When I need to understand knowledge I will reach for a book. How accurate this knowledge is depends on how much believability I put into it or how much validation comes out of it. When it comes to getting to K(NOW) a entity, reading a book or learning from someone who K(NOW)s this entity is not going to qualify me for what I would consider a REAL REALationship.

Master Vigil writes: What I wondered is if one would rather learn about or become.

This is a very good question that can probably be answered through my first post.

“Books are better when you do not want to go through the experience of the example or the example doesn't present itself to you in this life.”



Books do provide a safe distance for people who do not K(NOW) what they want to become of an experience.

Master Vigil writes: But now I see one needs books to learn about which they want to become first. But that has no bearing on the real spirituality of it. Once you figure out what "sounds" good. The book has no more purpose. Becoming is experiential and a book cannot help you become.

If you use the example of a self help book lets say How To Repair A Washing Machine, the book can teach you how to repair the problem with your washer but it won’t do it for you. Once you learn how to do it there may not be a reason to utilize that portion of the book anymore.

[Master Vigil]

But even with a book you are learning of others ideas of the divine. Not your own. The point is, what would be a better teacher on the subject of divine, a book, or a person of experience?

[cardero]

Master Vigil writes: But even with a book you are learning of others ideas of the divine. Not your own. The point is, what would be a better teacher on the subject of divine, a book, or a person of experience?

Personally this is how I would approach it. It works for almost any subject (the divine, spirituality, how to fix a washer). Though it only works if these sources are within your means.



1. The Original Source would be the best/first choice.

If you could not/would not get a hold of this source-

2. A book (or Internet source)

Anything that is written would be more accessible and you can enjoy/learn at your leisure. If you could not find anything written on this subject-

3. A teacher or a person of experience would be the next choice.

[t3gah]

Originally Posted by Master Vigil

Do you learn spiritually better from someone who can produce valid arguments in his field of study or someone who sets a good example? Like, if you would go to a college and get a professor who did countless research and claims to be the top scholar in the field of religion and all he does is sit there and lecture you, would he be a better religious and spiritual teacher than a person who teaches by example (for example, a monk, shaman, priest, etc..)? Is it better to have book smarts than experience? Is studying about religion better than being a religious?

There are a couple of scriptures in the bible that come to my mind in reference to an answer to your queries.

Hebrews 13:7 Remember your leaders, men who spoke to you the word of God, and considering the results of their conduct, imitate their faith.


Psalms 1:1 Blessed is the man who doesn’t walk in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stand in the way of sinners,
nor sit in the seat of scoffers;
1:2 but his delight is in Yahweh’s law.
On his law he meditates day and night.


Joshua 1:7 Only be strong and very courageous, to observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded you. Don’t turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success.

(All scriptures from the World English Bible)

Now according to the scriptures you are supposed to mimic others faith and study the scriptures in order to be religious as you say towards the Christian faith.

[SoulTYPE]

Originally Posted by Master Vigil

But even with a book you are learning of others ideas of the divine. Not your own. ?

They are there to set EXAMPLES, MV.

Originally Posted by Master Vigil

The point is, what would be a better teacher on the subject of divine, a book, or a person of experience?

IS it not likely a book on divinity would be written by a person of experience?