Taught by Rote or Learning as we Go
The Choice Between Memorizing or Engaging
December 22, 2024
Often, I have found myself in the position of trying to discern whether what I am thinking is a point of view which I have been taught or something I have learned.
Here’s a personal example of something I have been taught by rote: In the 1960’s the Viet Nam War was just beginning to rev up, and the U.S. Government was desperately trying to convince the Public of the necessity for its expansion.
Probably, the most convincing argument was the “Domino Theory,” basically stating that if we ceded Southeast Asia to the Commies, they wouldn’t stop until they took over Australia and all the islands in between.
This probably was very persuasive to many adults fresh from the bloody Pacific Island battles in WW 2 — like Iwo Jima,.
I was in the 6th grade at the time and had a required Social Studies assignment: Give a speech to my classmates on any Political topic I chose.
I chose the Viet Nam War and rattled off verbatim that metaphor President Eisenhower had coined. It was adopted by the next three Presidents: JFK, LBJ, and Nixon (So, I don’t feel alone in how I approached the speech.)
Well, my parents sure liked Ike, not sure about JFK and the rest, but no matter… I trusted Mom and Dad, and so I trusted Ike’s Domino Theory…
My speech was exactly what I was taught.
However, what I learned later made me do a 360, and by the time I graduated High School, I was leaning heavily toward anti-war sentiments.
All the same, when we are taught in that way, by rote, we find ourselves often dynamically opposed to what we will learn later.
Life is for learning.
Another example from another person came in history, from Pilate at the trial of Jesus. His question came based on what he was taught — a mix of Roman agnosticism and polytheism.
“What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him.” — John 18:38, New International Version.
Ironically, he learned the truth from examining Jesus, but when it came right down to his final judgment, he acted by rote, what Roman Laws had taught him.
His indoctrination overpowered what he had just learned about Jesus.
Sometimes it’s hard to break away from what we have been taught. This song is how Born Again Christian Believers are empowered to achieve that goal of learning over rote:
Tasha Cobbs — Break Every Chain (Lyrics)
I’ve come to the conclusion that rote leads to a prejudiced mindset, while learning as we go, even though a little unsettling at times, creates a mindset for creativity and revelation which oftimes transcends the memorization path. Maybe Deconstructionists, Denominational Christians and Non-believers could use some chain breaking. (Not to blindly replace with “new” ideas but learning as they go, that is applying and testing what they are beginning to think.)
Just a suggestion, but not for nothing.
Read the Bible prayerfully and seek the presence of God in your life.
