The myth of "head" vs "heart" knowledge

[Crossfire]

Matthew 15: 3 - 10 (NIV)

3 Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death. 5 But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is ‘devoted to God,’ 6 they are not to ‘honor their father or mother’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. 7 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:

8 “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.

9 They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules. ’ ”

10 Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. 11 What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”

 

[GRA]

OOPS... ("sorry")

'Psychological' is the realm of active processes of the mind - where physical-reality perception-and-thought occur.

should have been

'Psychological' is the realm of active processes of the brain - where physical-reality perception-and-thought occur.

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[GRA]

DISCLAIMER: The following discussion is naturally based on my 'world-view' - the collective summation of my knowledge, understanding, and perspectives of the reality which is "my world"...

First, I need to define some terms...

The following are the characteristically distinguishable 'realms' of human existence - as determined by self-awareness:

~ Physical
~ Physiological
~ Psychological
~ Mental
~ Emotional
~ Spiritual

'Physical' is the realm of the passive components of the body.

'Physiological' is the realm of active processes of the body - where direct communication (electrical or chemical) occurs within a body component or between body components.

'Psychological' is the realm of active processes of the brain - where physical-reality perception-and-thought occur.

'Mental' is the realm of intellect - where the thought and reasoning of the mind occur.

'Emotional' is the realm of feelings/desires - where the thought and reasoning of the heart occur.

'Spiritual' is the realm of the living essence of the person.

The following defines different identifiable "parts" of a human being in terms of the 'realms' of human existance that each occupies:

(See attached image #1)

The brain overlaps both the body and the mind (which do not overlap) - connecting them together - and is the "portal" through which the body and the mind communicate - and through which the spirit keeps the body alive. At death ("brain dead"), the connection is broken and the body separates from the mind. The mind continues (because it still has the spirit), but the body stops functioning (because the brain is no longer being kept alive by the spirit - and the body cannot live without the brain).

"the real person" => mind + heart + spirit

The spirit is the "life-force" - which is "God-breathed" - that quickens the soul (and the body, while it is present).

The 'identity' of a person rests in the 'soul' => mind + heart

Both the mind and the heart have "thoughts":

(See attached image #2)

The "feelings" and "desires" of the heart are two "facets" of the same thing.

"head knowledge" is based on the "intellect" of the mind.
"heart knowledge" is based on the "feelings"/"desires" of the heart.

In the Bible, the usage of the words 'heart' and 'soul' have [somewhat] different meanings, depending on the context of scripture.

However - in most cases, if not all, where the idea of "thoughts of the heart" is represented -- it is referring to the feelings/desires of the heart --- mostly, desires (intents) of the heart.

("I need to wrap this up - it is taking too much time - sorry it took so long - this is the condensed version - I hope it is enough - please ask if you would like for me to expound on a particular point, etc.")

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[GRA]

oldhermit:

"Did this help any?"

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[pickles]

One of my favorate scriptures.
When you seek me with your whole heart, then you shall see my face.

God bless
pickles

 

[chip]

reading through these comments, I wonder if I am amongst the few to encounter people whom know there Bible much better than me, however can not tie it together into any form of faith? Yeah, plenty of head knowledge and zip on application (what I would term heart knowledge).

Even within the church I see this, to take an easy example:
Whole churches where the entire concept of the Holy Spirit is understood - however any healing MUST come through doctors, that is why God put them there. No one praying for each other's healing, no the doctor's wisdom. No one laying on of hands, that is the doctor's job. ETC!

Catch the drift?

 

[mule]

I am one who believes we are spirit -- not just that we have a spirit but our spirit is WHO we are.
The brain is just part of the garment that we dwell in.
We know through Jesus, out of the mouth speaks the heart.
Our spirit has voice. Thanks to the brain *_* ha ha

 

[Abiding]

I am one who believes we are spirit -- not just that we have a spirit but our spirit is WHO we are.
The brain is just part of the garment that we dwell in.
We know through Jesus, out of the mouth speaks the heart.
Our spirit has voice. Thanks to the brain *_* ha ha

I dont understand this at all: The spirit is who we are.
Did you learn this on TV?

 

[Ariel82]

reading through these comments, I wonder if I am amongst the few to encounter people whom know there Bible much better than me, however can not tie it together into any form of faith? Yeah, plenty of head knowledge and zip on application (what I would term heart knowledge).

Even within the church I see this, to take an easy example:
Whole churches where the entire concept of the Holy Spirit is understood - however any healing MUST come through doctors, that is why God put them there. No one praying for each other's healing, no the doctor's wisdom. No one laying on of hands, that is the doctor's job. ETC!

Catch the drift?

no its a little too chilly for me.

Luke 4:25-28

New King James Version (NKJV)

25 But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; 26 but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath,[a] in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.”
28 So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,

 

[mule]

ABIDING,
No, it is not something I learned from T.V.
I know who I am.
My spirit prays. In tongues even.
My spirit loves, not my brain.
I know this because Spirit is witness to spirit.

 

[newcovenantchristian]

No Myth

Some rely on the little grey cells for truth
That's head knowledge

And some rely on the Holy Spirit for truth
That's heartfelt belief

 

[Ariel82]

there is no such thing as "heart" knowledge versus "head" knowledge.

GOD made the little gray cells in the head as well as the heart, the spirit and everything else.

If you want to make a division of knowledge keep it BIBLICAL.

there is Knowledge from ABOVE: Heavenly Wisdom

and Knowledge from BELOW: Demonic mutterings.

James 3


13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

 

[weakness]

strain at a gnat and swallow a camel

 

[GRA]

reading through these comments, I wonder if I am amongst the few to encounter people whom know there Bible much better than me, however can not tie it together into any form of faith? Yeah, plenty of head knowledge and zip on application (what I would term heart knowledge).

"Just curious - is the first part of this referring to me or others or both?"

I will have to disagree with your assessment that 'heart knowledge' is the application of 'head knowledge'. To me, they are two different "types" of knowledge - each occurring within its own "realm" (please see post #83).

"I would like to think that the application of either is possible."

Even within the church I see this, to take an easy example:
Whole churches where the entire concept of the Holy Spirit is understood - however any healing MUST come through doctors, that is why God put them there. No one praying for each other's healing, no the doctor's wisdom. No one laying on of hands, that is the doctor's job. ETC!

Catch the drift?

There is a [Bible-based] knowledge - by which - if we understand it - and obey it - we will not [even/ever] need the doctor!

("Understand that I am talking about 'prevention of', not 'treatment for'.")

Of course, prayer is always useful, needed, and required...

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[Abiding]

ABIDING,
No, it is not something I learned from T.V.
I know who I am.
My spirit prays. In tongues even.
My spirit loves, not my brain.
I know this because Spirit is witness to spirit.

sorry i put it that way. sounds rude now.
our soul uses our senses and mind to give us contact with the natural world

our soul also needs the spirit to have our soul and mind understand spiritual things

our soul is the real us. thats why we renew our mind with spiritual things by the spirit.
that why our soul is saved , and thats what John meant with the reference to our
soul prospering.

 

[Abiding]

heart usually is a referance to our will and affections...which also uses
all the other faculties at the same time

when it was prophecied He would give us a new heart...He meant Holy affections.

 

[mule]

Abiding
I like this from the gnostic book of mary ( I know I know heresy-- but I still like it)

The soul looks to the things below, the spirit looks to the things above and the mind is mediator between them.

 

[Ariel82]

if you are looking for wisdom from the gnostic book of mary, that explains alot.....

I like the Bible's wisdom. It says those born of the Spirit look to heavenly things, those of the flesh look to worldly things and Jesus Christ is the ONE mediator between God and man.

 

[GRA]

there is no such thing as "heart" knowledge versus "head" knowledge.

In a way, this is true - or should be!

Why do people think that 'heart knowledge' and 'head knowledge' are - by nature - contrary to each other?

The fact is - they must work together - they both have a part in translating what the spirit discerns...

They are separate -- yet, they work together as one...

And this is why - in the Bible - they can sometimes be seen as separate - but are often looked at as one-and-the-same.

Make sense?



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[GRA]

The soul looks to the things below, the spirit looks to the things above and the mind is mediator between them.

"It may sound nice, but it is incorrect..."

The mind does not 'mediate' between soul and spirit.



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