One example happened to me yesterday, in the office. I mentioned that the majority of people in our office voted Remain in the EU referendum, and a colleague said "Yes, we come from the intelligensia".Unravelling that, he meant was that those who voted otherwise are "not intelligent, not educated". It was a proud, possibly inaccurate and not very appealing comment. It reinforced my sense that some sections of society are completely and wilfully cut off from reality and the life of real people.
One practical reason why we should not categorise people according to their intelligence or look down on anyone on any basis is that we may end being "the fool" in practice. In the complexity of life, it is often difficult to know how things will turn out.
People talk a lot about equality today, and equality is not judged by someone's intelligence, but by their shared humanity. This person whom we despise is our equal brother or sister and we must respect them as equally 'made in the image of God' with God-given abilities, which could include a deeper wisdom or intuition about human nature, instead of mere 'exam-passing intelligence'. They may be practical, untuitive 'feelers' with antennae, rather than 'arid' logical thinkers. We are not sitting in 'the signal box' of life. Are we God, that we should know life and the future, for sure?
One should seriously take to heart what Jesus said:
One should seriously take to heart what Jesus said:
"But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, 'Raca,' is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell". NIV
Commenting on the intelligence of others is risky because one cannot sum up how intelligent someone really is by looking at them. One would have to know and assess a number of things such as:
Commenting on the intelligence of others is risky because one cannot sum up how intelligent someone really is by looking at them. One would have to know and assess a number of things such as:
- how honourable, reliable, consistent, respectable and loyal they are
- whether they can be trusted
- how they handle long term security and money
- whether they have self control
- whether they adhere to morality and truth, at all times
- how others flourish around them
- what their children are like (though there is not at all times a direct correlation to how good and loving parents have been)
- the beneficial viable outcomes of their work and life.
- whether they continue to learn from mistakes and attain mature wisdom about themselves and life
- whether they commit secret 'crimes'
- their creativity
- their legacy.
No one can judge or know these things from just looking at people externally. The good life aspires to wisdom according to the Ancients and the soul of wisdom is respect for others and a tentative approach to unpredictable outcomes. We cannot be sure about anything on this earth so assuming one is "100% right" is not a good idea.
Ultimately, anyone who calls their brother 'Fool' has hurt themself not anyone else. Sneering at others is not good for our soul. The way back is recognising it and humbling ourselves.
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