Learning

Foundational

Value

What is Learning:

Learning is the 24th Foundational Value.

Learning is fundamental to acquiring the knowledge and understanding necessary in developing Yourself in Mind, Body and Spirit.

Through Learning, we harness our Curiosity, our Focus, our Enthusiasm, and Diligence to develop our understanding and importance of All the Values and their place in our lives, in our society, and spiritual belief.

Through Learning we acquire a clarity about our world: what’s important, what is not. The aim through Learning is to cultivate our thinking, our creativity, our social conscience; which in turn will help Awaken the Values within our lives; in turn, the lives of those we know and Love; and within the lives of those who we don’t.

Science, religion, mathematics, human development, literature, medicine, biology, history, poetics, music, theatre, chemistry, psychology, philosophy, government, business, finance, sociology, Faith … all of which can be learned, and understood, and then meaningfully applied through Creative Endeavor into our Lives and into our World.

Through Learning, we are able to change our attitudes which source our behaviors. Equally, we can influence the behaviors of others. Through good Learning, we are able to re-focus our lives onto productive pathways; which will develop our Moral Character and Love for All Life which surrounds us.

Through Learning we will acquire the skills and insights necessary to build relationships, families, communities, organizations, institutions, and our earth; allowing them all to endure the test of time, and the relentless onslaught of the small-minded, the deviant, the deceitful, the depraved, and the evil.

Through Learning we are inspired to teach our children, and nurture the next generation; preparing them for both expected and unexpected challenges ahead.

Through Learning we realize a Vision for a Future where Humanity emerges triumphant over poverty, sickness, class conflict, hate, and war.

Through Learning we shall come to know what aspects of ourselves we need to grow; what aspects we need to change; how we must Adapt.

Through Learning we Shall Gain A stronger Soul and a true friend in God.

Examples of Learning:

There are many examples of Learning and Teaching in our World, some are famous, others obscure. It is the Quality of Teaching and Learning that makes the difference. Those who teach and learn based on the guidance of moral and intellectual character; who are shaped by the Foundational Values in their purpose and mission; it is they who are most noteworthy of mention as examples to follow and admire.

Some Examples:

The Teacher, selflessly giving time, energy, effort into Awakening a new generation to worlds to be explored, rivers to be crossed, mountains to be scaled.

The Student, going to school, studying, carrying a job, setting goals, achieving.

The 20 Something, who has decided to stop the nonsense in his life and focus now on learning, maturing, and building a new direction to his life.

The Agnostic, who has decided it is time to stop suspending judgment and begin learning.

Anti-Value: Ignorance

Ignorance is the opposite of Learning.

Ignorant people are known by their stubborn, lazy, un-awakened state of mind. Most times they are disinterested in gaining knowledge, or changing behavior that could bring education into their life.

Ignorance is seeing little; understanding little; hearing little; speaking little; and doing little.

Ignorance cheats a person out of life.

Ignorance chokes the opportunity to discover the meaning and purpose of life.

Ignorance holds a person captive to the darkness of deception, to the dankness of the cave.

Ignorance prevents the light of truth from showing a path out into freedom.

Ignorance imprisons the Soul as prelude to Extinguishing it.

Biblical References of Learning:

Proverbs 1:5: “Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance,”

Proverbs 18:15: “An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge”

Proverbs 8:10: “Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold”

1 John 5:20: “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life”

Matthew 28:19-20: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”