Knowledge is Power: Learning from St. Justin

Francis Bacon is a 16th century English philosopher, father of empiricism and the scientific method. In his argument against heresies, he defends divine intelligence, omniscience, and omnipotence by providing a famous line many people quote out of context. “For knowledge itself is a power whereby he [God] knoweth” (Meditationes Sacrae,1597. 71). Though some of his ideas are not consistent with Christian orthodoxy, the redacted version of his quote—knowledge is power—is self-evident.

Knowledge is power, but searching for knowledge is difficult for many. Knowledge is not given. One has to put in hard work to acquire it. Those who eventually break the cycle of intellectual laziness, prejudice, and ignorance with an unbiased search for the truth find true freedom.

Against Prejudices

You know there are numerous prejudices nowadays. You may call them biases, prejudgments, ignorance, or simply self-opinions. Bacon calls them “idols,” which he classified into four different forms.

Prejudices come from different sources. Some come from family and friends, some from peers who see things only through one particular lens and don’t want us to see it otherwise. Probably, we don’t want to lose their friendship; hence we limit our search too.

Some come from what I call “emperor or celebrity cults” or, in the intellectual world, “academic demagoguery.” Simply because a celebrity or famous voice said, shared, or tweeted something, some take it as dogma. They fight over what they have not researched or thought through. Many simply don’t care to know the truth and enjoy the liberating power of knowledge. They live a lie, embracing it with reckless audacity.

Social Media Promoting Ignorance and Prejudices

Worst prejudices come from the Internet, especially social network sites of social media. Those with less depth and information have much gossip and false information to share—the more ridiculous and bizarre, the trendier. The design of many social media algorithms aggregates such sensational and silly content because that is one of the easiest ways to grab the attention of gullible users. Unfortunately, though it may be outrightly false and unethical, the viral content is often more welcome as credible. The instant gratification culture of online communication breeds hastiness and illogicality. Embracing this way of life is the death of knowledge.

Worst is the selective exposure that comes from loyalty to a one-sided story. Loyalty to a particular viewpoint closes the door to improving on what we know. Again, social media has made it worse. Audiences are so segmented, they think everybody reads what they read and receives the exact information they receive. Little do they know they are radically targeted and segmented based on their preferences and taste. Those networks, movies, books, or blogs that tell alternative views are blocked. Is this the way to knowledge and truth? I suppose not.

Don’t we have an ethical obligation to search for the truth and to abide by it when we find it?

Justin the Martyr, a Model in the Search for the Truth

Let me give you an example of how best to seek knowledge and discover the truth. The life of Justin the Martyr is a model.

Justin was born around 100 AD in Flavia Neapolis (previously known as Sichem but modern day Nablus), in the central part of Palestine. His parents were Romans and worshippers of the Roman gods. He, too, believed in the Roman gods, as well as popular philosophies of the time. An avid reader, a philosopher, and an extraordinary intellectual, Justin did not limit his search for knowledge.

As a youth, he studied all the available philosophy systems of the time but found something was missing. Providentially, through a casual chat with a Christian who counseled him not to limit his thoughts to the popular, he decided to investigate Christianity. No sooner had he started to read than he saw, “this was true.” The knowledge, the missing link, was coming together. It was how he became a believer. Though he died for his faith, his example is noble for all. He broke the shackles of prejudice. You can do the same.

A Piece of Advice

My advice is: Do not limit your search. Those who search find. The Lord says, “those who seek, find” (Matthew 7:7). The only caution is avoiding a search that is unholy and unethical. Remember God’s word, “my people perish for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). I am praying for the liberating power of knowledge. Amen.

God love you. God bless you.

[June 1, Saint Justin Martyr: 1Cor 1:18-25; Matthew 5:13-19]