Finding Freedom Through Understanding

One of the most important concepts I am taking away from Theology class is that, no matter what your faith, to effectively speak in Spirit, Power and Truth, it is important to understand where your faith comes from and to understand why you believe what you believe.

 

I hear so many people say, I know what I know, because God reveals it to me. They’ve learned the truth from the community around them, and that their inner knowing  confirms the Truth.

 For years I had an inner truth guiding me and leading me to believe I was unlovable, unwanted and inferior to the rest of the world. You couldn’t convince me it was anything but the truth, because I felt it, I knew it, and everybody told me so. Therefore, I accepted it as Absolute Truth.  Then I signed up for counseling that gave me more information. I learn new thought along with new skills and different ways of coping. What I, originally thought in my heart to be the truth was changed, by bring in more information. I’ve become a more competent, whole person for bringing in that knowledge.

 

A similar experience is happening as I am studying, learning and challenging my theology at Unity institute.  In my course, I am exposed to the most influential beliefs that have impacted and molded our Christian faith. We examine everything from the early Hebrews, to Plato to Tertullian to Charles Fillmore. We not only examine, but, question, and even challenge, their beliefs and teaching.  In addition, we are asked to examine and challenge our own beliefs and understand where they came from. 

When I went to counseling, I learned that thoughts of inferiority and being unlovable, were wrong thinking, coming from something I had been told--even though they felt like truth.

As a theology student I have come to the same conclusion. What may feel like the truth, in light of evidence and new information may, in fact, be an illusion.

 

I’m still a first semester student, with a lifetime of learning ahead. Sometimes it seems the more I learn the less I know. However, just like going to counseling, it seems like the more carefully scrutinized scholarly information I bring in, the more competent and whole I am becoming in by faith.