What is religious wisdom?

[Robert_Sock]

*And I have seen that there is an advantage in wisdom over folly, as the advantage in light over darkness

– Ecclesiastes 2:13*

What is religious wisdom? How is it different from knowledge and virtues? What are some examples of religious wisdom?

 

[scottm]

I have always thought that knowledge is facts – names, dates, places, numbers, vocabulary and such – and wisdom is what to do with those facts. Wisdom tells you what to do with the numbers and the names and so on that you have learned. For example, knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, but wisdom is knowing to put that fruit in a vegetable salad. Knowledge would be rote memorization of the Ten Commandments and such, but wisdom would be knowing how to apply them in your life.

 

[Benadam]

The beginning of wisdom is the fear of God. A filial bond of love with God in perfect happiness is it’s end. I think action that flows from that bond or are prompted by that fear is religious wisdom.

If I avoid sin because I want to avoid hell that is religious wisdom.
If I avoid sin because it is destructive that is not an act of religious wisdom but human knowledge.

 

[po18guy]

Wisdom was sought after by the ancient Hebrews, as it multiplied the value and enjoyment of life - a life before there was much thought about any form of resurrection. It was useful in all aspects of living, and helped those who possessed it to avoid many of the pitfalls of life. Wisdom was the ancient internet, so to speak, being the source for practical and intelligent decision making, informing the mind of the wise. The Book of Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) is an excellent example of the teaching of wisdom. It is as useful today as it was when written (about 180 BC).

As well, wisdom is one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. Here is but one description of it, from: secondexodus.com/index.htm

The gift of wisdom leads the soul of those who have it to see things from God’s perspective. Wisdom is fullness of knowledge through affinity for the divine, as when a person comes to know Christ’s Passion through suffering. It is also love, which inspires contemplative reflection on what we believe and directs the mind to judge according to its precepts. The gift of wisdom supplements the virtue of faith and shields us against folly.

The virtue of charity is part of wisdom; it inspires contemplative reflection on the divine mysteries, enjoys thinking about them, and directs the mind to judge all things according to their right principles.

Wisdom is distinct from faith. Faith is assent to the defined articles of Catholic belief. Wisdom goes farther to a certain divine penetration of these truths.

Wisdom is first and highest among the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. The others are: understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.

Wisdom is also one of the five intellectual virtues.