Intelligence as divine property

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fisherman_carl

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We have a mixed relationship with intelligence in our culture. Often it is in a way belittled in tv shows portaying nutty professors and awkward geeks. But on the other hand it is glorified in tv such as detective shows like Sherlock Holmes and many others. Or in sci fi films like Star Trek.

Our fascination with intelligence is evident. Could intelligence be a glimpse into the divine? For instance, when we see that detective brilliantly solve that crime it invokes a certain amount of awe. Or reading a book by a brilliant mind can do the same. Do we see a spark of the divine in us, especially through a brighter light? And this points us to being created in God’s image? Having an intellect and will.

Thus, when we marvel at how Sherlock solved the crime are we really marvelling at the image of the divine?
 
Just yesterday MDH made a comment about something and my mind thought about possible outcomes if what he said was true. But what struck me so much that I mentioned it to HIM–where did that thought come from? It wasn’t something I ever thought before like it was laying in my brain waiting to jump out… Where did thought come from and isn’t your brain a wonderful thing that can take suggested (name removed by moderator)ut and bring a whole new thought to the equation… I’m awe struck. Maybe that is how we are created in HIS image… just the thought.

I’m no philosopher but wasn’t there someone who said, “I think, therefore I am…”?
 
Descartes was the one who said “I think, therefore I am” (Cogito, ergo sum) in his Discourse on Method. In his Mediations, he says “I am; I exist” (Ego sum, ego existo).
 
liturgy96 said:
Descartes was the one who said “I think, therefore I am” (Cogito, ergo sum) in his Discourse on Method. In his Mediations, he says “I am; I exist” (Ego sum, ego existo).
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Descartes walked into a bar and ordered a drink. Having finished it, the bartender asked if he would have another. Descartes replies, “I think not” and promptly vanished.
 
fisherman_carl said:
We have a mixed relationship with intelligence in our culture. Often it is in a way belittled in tv shows portaying nutty professors and awkward geeks. But on the other hand it is glorified in tv such as detective shows like Sherlock Holmes and many others. Or in sci fi films like Star Trek.

Our fascination with intelligence is evident. Could intelligence be a glimpse into the divine? For instance, when we see that detective brilliantly solve that crime it invokes a certain amount of awe. Or reading a book by a brilliant mind can do the same. Do we see a spark of the divine in us, especially through a brighter light? And this points us to being created in God’s image? Having an intellect and will.

Thus, when we marvel at how Sherlock solved the crime are we really marvelling at the image of the divine?
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Not in my opinion…we, as humans are really not that intelligent (as a whole), the bible states angels, even Satan himself, are MUCH more intelligent than we are, so any human intelligence would not be comparable to divine or supernatural intelligence, it would actually be like the difference between an ant and a Rhoads scholar.
 
I think we can reason about things, but God actually knows everything. Not only does he know everything, he is creating everything right now.

An intelligent and reasonable person is worthy of admiration in the same way a healthy, successful, or loving person is worthy of admiration and imitation. Something like “good for him/her, I should read/exercise/work harder/love more often.”

God however, is worthy of worship because he is far beyond a human virtue like intelligence. Our virtues are nothingness when compared to his unimaginable essence. Angels may be more intelligent because they aren’t distracted by bodies or sin. But, even the most intelligent and glorious angel is nothingness compared to God, in my opinion.
 
mikekle said:
Not in my opinion…we, as humans are really not that intelligent (as a whole), the bible states angels, even Satan himself, are MUCH more intelligent than we are, so any human intelligence would not be comparable to divine or supernatural intelligence, it would actually be like the difference between an ant and a Rhoads scholar.
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I think that limitations on our mind are due mostly to the obscenity that is death. If that did not occur, nor the oxygen pathways in the head get deteriorated, the human mind would be truly awesome in its capabilities.

ICXC NIKA
 
We are not “distracted by bodies”. Our mind is coded, as it were, to live in the head of a body, and our body is wrapped around the mind.

An angelic mind is not designed to live in the head of a moving body, but ours is.

The result is two very distinct mind processes. We are not spirits using limbed bodies for movement (pure spirits need no movement); rather, we are thinking bodies, a new class in the order of mind.

ICXC NIKA.
 
mikekle said:
Not in my opinion…we, as humans are really not that intelligent (as a whole), the bible states angels, even Satan himself, are MUCH more intelligent than we are, so any human intelligence would not be comparable to divine or supernatural intelligence, it would actually be like the difference between an ant and a Rhoads scholar.
Click to expand...
PumpkinCookie said:
I think we can reason about things, but God actually knows everything. Not only does he know everything, he is creating everything right now.

An intelligent and reasonable person is worthy of admiration in the same way a healthy, successful, or loving person is worthy of admiration and imitation. Something like “good for him/her, I should read/exercise/work harder/love more often.”

God however, is worthy of worship because he is far beyond a human virtue like intelligence. Our virtues are nothingness when compared to his unimaginable essence. Angels may be more intelligent because they aren’t distracted by bodies or sin. But, even the most intelligent and glorious angel is nothingness compared to God, in my opinion.
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Of course God is above his creation. But what I am really asking is do we see glimpses of God in his creation? I can’t see angels. Nor can I see God. So any knowledge I have comes through either revelation or philosophy/theology. However, I can see other people. Can we actually see the image of God in others as our revelation teaches that we should? Yes, our intelligence is not on the same level as God. However it may be analogous to God’s intelligence. Many things we know about God through analogy. Like God being a Father. He is less like a human father than he is like one. But he is more like a father than he is a mother or a brother. Thus we use analogy to know about God. God’s intelligence may be less like ours than it is like ours. But it is more like ours than it is like a goldfish. And while the angels may have a superior intelligence we can not see them.

Plus it is good to see the image of the divine in us. There is something good about us after all.
 
petra22 said:
Just yesterday MDH made a comment about something and my mind thought about possible outcomes if what he said was true. But what struck me so much that I mentioned it to HIM–where did that thought come from? It wasn’t something I ever thought before like it was laying in my brain waiting to jump out… Where did thought come from and isn’t your brain a wonderful thing that can take suggested (name removed by moderator)ut and bring a whole new thought to the equation… I’m awe struck. Maybe that is how we are created in HIS image… just the thought.

I’m no philosopher but wasn’t there someone who said, “I think, therefore I am…”?
Click to expand...
Are you saying He gave you the thought or that it came out of your own creativity? I suppose it could also be both. Like a master sculpture and apprentice working together.
 
It is by our intelligence that we contemplate about God, in His creation, in our lives, and in our spirituality. Some Saints were taken up in ecstacy while contemplating God They have come to experience His love in beautiful revelation where the will was captivated by His goodness, and beauty. Even when we contemplate natural beauty, we seek to know that object and desire it. This all takes place though our intelligence. It was created to know the Ultimate Truth, God. And the will in knowing the Ultimate Truth to be the Ultimate Good becomes united to It.
 
inocente said:
Not if it implies that a member of Mensa has more of a glimpse into the divine than a Down syndrome child. 🙂
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I’m not sure what you meant? A Down Syndrome child has no less dignity. Intelligence is only one attribute. Love is an even more important one. Not everyone has the same intelligence. What I am talking about is seeing a stroke of brilliance and conparing that to a reflection of God’s attributes. Since we are created in His image. That must mean there is something in us that mirrors the divine. God has no handicaps. But someone who has a handicap can often teach us about love or compassion.
 
inocente said:
Not if it implies that a member of Mensa has more of a glimpse into the divine than a Down syndrome child. 🙂
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Im not sure who said this, maybe Aquinas, but someone born with a mental disability gets extra portions of intelligence in heaven as compensation.
 
ynotzap said:
It is by our intelligence that we contemplate about God, in His creation, in our lives, and in our spirituality. Some Saints were taken up in ecstacy while contemplating God They have come to experience His love in beautiful revelation where the will was captivated by His goodness, and beauty. Even when we contemplate natural beauty, we seek to know that object and desire it. This all takes place though our intelligence. It was created to know the Ultimate Truth, God. And the will in knowing the Ultimate Truth to be the Ultimate Good becomes united to It.
Click to expand...
👍 Yes, according to Aquinas that is why God gave us an intellect so that humans can go to heaven and have the beatific vision. whereas animals can not. Since animals can not contemplate God.

Do you know a Saint that was taken up while contemplating?
 
GEddie said:
I think that limitations on our mind are due mostly to the obscenity that is death. If that did not occur, nor the oxygen pathways in the head get deteriorated, the human mind would be truly awesome in its capabilities.

ICXC NIKA
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Or, we have just not yet figured out how to access more of our brain/ abilities/ intelligence…if we last that long, maybe in another 500-1000 yrs, peoples intelligence will be much different?

Ive always believed we are capable of so much more, if we could only figure out how to ‘turn it on’.
 
fisherman_carl said:
👍 Yes, according to Aquinas that is why God gave us an intellect so that humans can go to heaven and have the beatific vision. whereas animals can not. Since animals can not contemplate God.

Do you know a Saint that was taken up while contemplating?
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St. Theresa of Avilla is one, and according to St.Mary of Agreda, the Blessed Mother, there are many more saints, but the memory of them escapes me, it’s been a long time since I read about their lives.
 
St.Paul the Apostles to the Gentiles was taken up, but not necessarily contemplating… St. Catherine of Sienna may be another.
 
GEddie said:
We are not “distracted by bodies”. Our mind is coded, as it were, to live in the head of a body, and our body is wrapped around the mind.

An angelic mind is not designed to live in the head of a moving body, but ours is.

The result is two very distinct mind processes. We are not spirits using limbed bodies for movement (pure spirits need no movement); rather, we are thinking bodies, a new class in the order of mind.

ICXC NIKA.
Click to expand...
I agree! 🙂 I have a Philosophy reading on Gabriel Marcel that states how we are truly embodied spirits and incarnate realities, unlike the res cogitans (thinking thing) Descartes said in his Meditations. It was actually somewhat radical to read that Descartes believed we were ensouled bodies but refused to acknowledge such in his philosophical works as it could not be proven clearly, and his philosophy was all about having clear mathematical proofs for everything.

I agree with what the others have said about intelligence allowing us to contemplate the Divine. Beyond that, I have no other insights to add.

I am not a Philosophy major, by the way haha
 
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