“Why are theories important to individuals?” 2/3/2009

“Why are theories important to individuals?”
In 1 Cor.19-22 we read; 20 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
Really one shouldn’t need anymore to know why theories are important to individuals! But the worldly require more and sometimes so do those not of the world. However the worldly only read to seek to disprove anything written against them and their ways – while the ‘choir’ read to understand and yet gain more knowledge.
A friend of mine had to make an important presentation – it was on a sacred topic and others would be there to present who not only didn’t believe as he did but they scorned his beliefs. Prior to the presentation each presenter had to exchange what their comments would be in the first draft. In this way one would know what the other would be presenting. Now if you can follow this – he was the only one presenting as he believed and even though the beliefs of the others varied they were all similar to one another and all combined to scorn his beliefs.
In assisting my friend – I asked if wanted to speak to deaf or unhearing ears? He said of course not in his quick reply. Therefore I suggested that he speak to neither of the other presenter’s material but to speak only to the audience without once addressing the comments found in the first draft of the others. In a worldly perspective this is most difficult to do and most are so tempted to address what they know will soon be said by another. He did agree as I suggested as I additionally pointed out where this had been done successfully before many times and when not done and should’ve been done the results was as expected.
Here then is the catch – and addresses the question found in the above title – my friend was presenting from known, proven fact – not theory – while the others were speaking from only theory passed down to them in the higher schools of learning and their individual restricted prejudices! They were restricted in their presentation to the theories of others passed alone as quasi factual information but without either foundation or merit in the eyes of Heavenly Father and therefore only in the eyes of the world.
In conclusion to the example of my friend he did wonderfully well – the others in their presentations showed they had not listened to him one whit! They went their party line presenting nothing new and nothing to substantiate what the topic of the meeting was about. The audience could tell the difference – with some actually hearing and others like the other two presenters not wanting to hear what my friend had to say. Yet in the end – new ears had heard – and some will take action on what they heard and this was the goal of the presentation.
In the importance of theories to individuals is that most individuals live in the theories as if they are already proven fact and not changeable or correctable! Recently I’ve had to read some books on a normal day I would’ve never ventured to even review. The material being presented wasn’t being presented as a theory but as the final answer to the question of which the author presumed everyone had asked and wanted to know.
In seeking to find out why I found the book so objectionable it finally dawned on me that the theory being presented as the final answer was incomplete and not entirely open ended. The author using a great wealth of wordiness was placing great limitation of other men/women and even greater limitations on Heavenly Father. Thus in offering great justifications to men/women (and one would surmise the beasts of the field) his work has become a classic in its field of stuffy.
It’s interesting to note even the translator of the work found it difficult to understand and thus made it even more difficult by changing the essence and meaning of the title. Yet this was both of the author and the translator’s common theory in all of human behavior in their studies and teachings. And thus the theorist continues to confound not only themselves but those who become their disciples.
Most of the worldly theories are still just theories and in many cases most in the world don’t even know what they are! The inner circle of the elite educated has always placed itself on a pedestal decrying the ineptitude of the masses. The American Constitution was supposed to rid some of this – but in the end the elite wealthy have deemed it their right to rule and make laws. In theory the Constitution was one of the greatest documents ever written by a group of men in one place at one time. However the question always came down to how could it work? Those who followed the Founding Father’s decided it couldn’t work and have two centuries working to change it or do away with it altogether; after all it’s just a theory of how government should work is their combined echo. Now a seat in public office has a price tag – and if you’re not willing to pay you cannot get in!
Education is at great fault in the presentation of theories because of the rash bias against morals, virtues, common sense and truth. The common thought of most students is, ‘garbage in – garbage out’ and knowing they’ve to give back to the professor/teacher/instructor what’s been given to them without argument. Soon as trained mice these students will enter into the worldly and do the same with those they’ve responsibility for – all such a waste of unlimited potential.
Theories and the study of them give justifications to the weaknesses and apathy of the world. Instead of seeking the higher truth or greater light which each human has the ability to do – theories keep as their intent humans confused and in contention one with another. The book referenced above on human behavior and relationship between two or more human beings, never once deals with a ‘oneness’ which is the bedrock teaching of the Scriptures and Gospel of Jesus Christ. In opposition to this idea of ‘oneness’ the author denies even the possibility of the most common thought taught by the Savior, “Gen. 2: 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” “Doctrine and Covenants 35:2 I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was crucified for the sins of the world, even as many as will believe on my name, that they may become the sons of God, even one in me as I am one in the Father, as the Father is one in me, that we may be one. (See also 3 Nephi 28:10.)”
The theories of men become overly important as they seek at all times from offending anyone with common sense or truth. They hint at truth and say its truth but ultimately when one denies all or some of the facts it cannot be truth! The forced study and sometimes willingly creates an aura of importance which elevates one to a worldly higher plain. While in effect accomplishing nothing towards the resolution of what someone – somewhere put forth as a theory.
Much of my contemplation is being done with the idea of worldly and grand theories – not the subject specific theories in finite roots. These finite theories are usually resolved out of the light of the day and gain little public notice. It’s the grander ones which make money – sell text books – create positions of false teachers – teaching false doctrines (theories) as truth. They rely on a passive audience numbed by rhetoric and charisma which would rather avoid a bump in the road than to remove it.
Man rejects simple answers seeking instead for theories to define ‘reason’ to their own ends and not for the good of all. They’ll say it’s for the good of all but in reality confusion and contention cannot be good for anyone except one seeking to gain from others expense. Thus we’ve why theories have become a great study and end in themselves and therefore important.