What is worldly learning? Vain knowledge?

[ResoluteSheep]

I’ve heard that Christians are told to avoid worldly learning and acquiring vain knowledge as this can lead to vanity. How do we identify what is worldly learning and what is not? Like, a professor in literature is free to learn other things of interest and of his choosing such as history and psychology; he doesn’t have to only learn more about literature. Does it only become worldly learning when,

1. We seek to be known as ‘‘smart’’ or ''knowledgeable;;
2. It has no significant purpose in our lives

Could someone please confirm? Thank you

 

[Casilda]

I’ve heard that Christians are told to avoid worldly learning and acquiring vain knowledge as this can lead to vanity. How do we identify what is worldly learning and what is not? Like, a professor in literature is free to learn other things of interest and of his choosing such as history and psychology; he doesn’t have to only learn more about literature. Does it only become worldly learning when,

1. We seek to be known as ‘‘smart’’ or ''knowledgeable;;
2. It has no significant purpose in our lives

Could someone please confirm? Thank you

My dad was a genius, always reading, very wise. He only had a high school diploma, having enlisted in the service upon graduation, got married, had kids, worked for a living.

But to some people he was not smart, because he didn’t have a degree or letters after his name.

I know people who are perpetual students, chasing degrees so they can attach them to their names. They waste a lot of time and money doing this. This does not make them smart. They are vain, seeking knowledge but lacking wisdom

It becomes empty knowledge when it serves no purpose. We are meant to serve the Lord. If you strive for a law degree to help victims falsely accused then that is a good purpose. If you do it to drive a jaguar and spend summers in exotic places, it is vain.

.

 

[Erikaspirit16]

I’ve heard that Christians are told to avoid worldly learning and acquiring vain knowledge as this can lead to vanity.

This is Islam. Ibn Majah, hadith #54: "“Knowledge consists of three things: the decisive verses (Qur’ân), authentic Hâdîth and prescriptions rightly deduced from the two. What is beside them is superfluous.”

In other words, it is not knowledge in general that should be sought, but only religious knowledge.

Christians do not believe this and never have. The Christian perspective is that God gave us reason, and He expects us to use it.