Seminar by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III at the Book Fair – A Word on Knowledge
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III speaks in this lecture about knowledge and its importance, especially at the Book Fair, explaining notes about acquiring books, reading them, understanding them and memorizing the good information from them.
The Extreme Smallness and Extent of Our Knowledge
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III points out that our knowledge is very meager compared to God’s absolute knowledge, and that every person knows something limited in a specific field, even the holder of a doctorate is specialized in a very precise part of science.
Sources of Knowledge and Their Types
He explains that sources of knowledge are multiple: the senses, the mind, the conscience, contemplation, revelation, books, media and the computer, and that each source has its advantages and disadvantages, and that there is knowledge that benefits and vice versa.
The Usefulness of Knowledge and Its Responsibility
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III affirms that knowledge must be connected to application, for knowledge is a responsibility: he who knows more is demanded more, and he who refuses to know is blamed for his refusal, and that a person’s knowledge may increase after death sometimes when the material barrier is removed.
Beneficial and Harmful Knowledge
He shows that some knowledge is harmful because it confuses thought or contaminates conscience or excites the self and leads to sins, while righteous knowledge feeds the mind, the heart and the spirit and provides solutions to problems and builds personality.
Writing, the Writer and the Role of the Fair
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III emphasizes that books are a means not an end, and that the true writer is one who has a message and makes knowledge useful to the reader, with ease in style and honesty and accuracy so the reader trusts and benefits.
Distinguishing the Scholar from the Teacher and the Importance of the Transmitter
He differentiates between the scholar and the teacher: the scholar may have very deep knowledge, while the teacher is the one who can convey knowledge to others. He also warns against being content with repetition and boring books, and calls for books that leave a spiritual and moral effect and change life.
Practical Recommendation
He advises having a balanced home library suitable for different ages, and choosing knowledge that builds the person and improves his life, and respecting a sound conscience and balanced knowledge that prevent mistakes.
For better translation support, please contact the center.
