Lightbulb Moments

Am I sitting on a chair?

Is my laptop on a desk?

Is this a laptop?

Epistemology leads to acquiring knowledge about life and explain how we think, what reasoning we use to get there, and The study of epistemology and professed Christianity have a very close relationship because both point to knowing God more. Epistemology assists in our acquiring of knowledge to worship God in our professed Christianity. God is the base of all knowledge, so epistemology directly points to Him from a Christian worldview. God created us with a rational brain to give us a desire to inquire more about Him. It makes us devote ourselves to His knowledge and the truth of His Word. His Word points to realizations about our role in His plan and the purpose we have in His creation, but also to realizations about Him as our eternal creator.

A lightbulb is a great analogy for these realizations. God is the inner wiring, the source for the light of knowledge. Stemming from it is light, produced from the center and pointing towards the center. Our quest for knowledge is like turning on the light. As we see the result of the light shining, we know it is because of the wiring that Thomas Edison discovered. Epistemology is the strands of light and God is the central wiring. Without each other, the bulb wouldn’t be complete. Both are necessary for to find God’s truth within the realm of professed Christianity. Proverbs 2:6 says that “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” God’s wisdom and truth can be found in the Bible, but also through having a professed, personal relationship with God. A good analogy for us to remember when studying epistemology as a Christian is to have a lightbulb moment. Without each other, they wouldn’t work, but both are important to the overall architecture. You can have that “aha” moment while learning about God and worship God by learning about Him by applying (and shining) the meaning (light) to Him. Christianity and knowledge MUST work together to shape our faith. Both are necessary for professed Christianity.

An epistemological understanding of truth is important because it answers life questions, but also because it points to our reasoning behind conclusions, just like how the strands of light point to the inner wiring. If we never understand why we make the decisions we make, how do we know those are valid decisions associate with what we believe? Knowledge about God and our faith will assist in our ethical decisions and even mundane decisions. Our knowledge of God is the deciding factor behind all decisions we make in life. Once again, this is another case where epistemology and Christianity coincide to form the truths of our lives.

Epistemology works also to explain the way we think, therefore explain the way we worship God. This study helps us to evaluate our worship and, in doing so, worship God further. By evaluating our worship, we learn what we value, what God values, and how we best worship God. Each person is different, so learning how to best worship God in the most appropriate way is very important to our Christianity because spending time with God is a key role of our faith. Self-evaluation is valued in aspects of other faiths, so this can give us a way to relate to other people. It also helps us to learn about ourselves, more importantly. Values and induction/deduction play prevalent roles in the way we think, so exploring those are incredibly important to a professed faith.

I’ve heard the saying “knowledge is power” so many times before, but as I’ve studied epistemology, I’ve realized the importance behind it. When we study our knowledge and the questions behind our knowledge, it gives us a greater understanding for the world. Whether it’s empathy for the suffering or encouragement for the thriving, understanding for our worldview as Christians is important because it gives us a distinct kind of power. A power to defend our faith against critics and strengthen it amongst other believers.  The knowledge behind faith is power because it gives supportive explanations in both directions. Knowledge opens many doors (of opportunity and for worship) for us as believers, and, in a way, closes doors for contradictions against us. Epistemology should be viewed as an empowering aspect of philosophy for Christians, not degrading. Why wouldn’t we want to learn more about our Almighty God? We are so blessed to have the ability to use an aspect of philosophy in this way. All in all, yes, epistemology and professed Christianity can work together. In fact, in the eyes of a Christian, they are necessary for the other. Both coincide with our worship for God and faith.