Information and Knowledge


Knowledge, on the other hand, speaks of organizing said information in such a way that you gain insights into the state of things, and can develop plans for moving forward.

...We've participated in Orthodox fasting, have Icons in our house, you name it, I've even attended various services (3 Divine liturgies in 2 jurisdictions, plus Vespers and the Sunday of Orthodoxy one year). But this week I finally made contact with the priest at our local Greek Orthodox Church and realized how much I really need to discuss with him.

...In other words, I have all of the information you could possibly want about Orthodoxy, but precious little knowledge.... Often they are not, and to their detriment and the detriment of others, IMO.

It's been long known in the information world that there is information, and then there is knowledge. Information is mostly about data. Companies for years have developed wonderful information systems and now possess unbelievable volumes of information. Knowledge, on the other hand, speaks of organizing said information in such a way that you gain insights into the state of things, and can develop plans for moving forward. In a way, knowledge is taking information and making it real. Most companies struggle with accomplishing the latter.

I've developed a keener awareness of this dichotomy as we've begun the move toward Orthodoxy. I probably know more about the Orthodox theology than many Orthodox, to be honest. I've taught it to our Catechumenate classes for years. We've participated in Orthodox fasting, have Icons in our house, you name it, I've even attended various services (3 Divine liturgies in 2 jurisdictions, plus Vespers and the Sunday of Orthodoxy one year). But this week I finally made contact with the priest at our local Greek Orthodox Church and realized how much I really need to discuss with him. Its not the theology. I know that and have agreed with it for over a decade. Its the practical stuff. How do we deal with the fast, and helping our children along through that. How do we deal with Christmas being on a different date, on Thanksgiving in the midst of the Nativity fast? What sort of a prayer rule should I follow.

In other words, I have all of the information you could possibly want about Orthodoxy, but precious little knowledge. I need to make the information real, I need to live Orthodoxy. That is the fundamental weakness, especially in the modern era, with those who style themselves philosophers, apologists, or theologian. They have lots of information, but do they have the knowledge? Are they living the information that they have? Often they are not, and to their detriment and the detriment of others, IMO.

Posted: Tue - March 7, 2006 at 12:44 PM        

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