{"id":38421,"date":"2018-02-08T09:08:12","date_gmt":"2018-02-08T07:08:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/learning-culture\/"},"modified":"2024-11-18T20:12:10","modified_gmt":"2024-11-18T18:12:10","slug":"learning-culture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kernbeisser.ch\/en\/learning-culture\/","title":{"rendered":"Learning culture"},"content":{"rendered":"

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How do we learn?<\/h3>\n

Encouraging growth and development is one of the core tasks of the church (Ephesians 4:11-16). There are communities or groups where predominantly a
\n teaching culture<\/a>
\n<\/strong> is cultivated. With a teaching culture, “teaching” is done – the focus is on the teaching and the teacher. In rare cases, this can tip to the other extreme and lead to an absence of teaching. This happens when directives come from above – for example, from church leadership – that there is no need for biblical teaching at all.<\/p>\n

In contrast to this is a
\n learning culture<\/a>
\n<\/strong>. In a learning culture, there is “learning” – the focus is on Christ and the Scriptures speak of Him. One learns together and sees the Bible not only as a doctrinal edifice but also as a tool for a differentiated discussion (Heb 4:12). Here, the examination of writing is encouraged, as is the many-sided exchange of ideas about what is being learned. Growth and maturity then spring from positive engagement.<\/p>\n

Although “teaching” and “learning” do not seem to get along without each other, the difference is expressed in the handling of “truth<\/a>“. When a teaching culture prevails, cognition is quickly “explained,” if not “dictated.” In a learning culture, knowledge is sought and people are encouraged to engage with God and His Word. In the common recognition there is then an openness that is directed toward Christ and that neither gets tangled up in quibbling over words nor revels in rigid doctrines. This wants to be learned in cooperation.<\/p>\n

In this sense, I was recently made aware of how the VBG (United Bible Groups) in Switzerland formulate this. They strive to be reflective Christians:[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ back_color=”color-gyho” overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”201725″]<\/p>\n

Reflective Christianity
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Four focal points run through all areas:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Believing with reason: pursuing questions, taking criticism seriously, formulating one’s own positions<\/li>\n
  2. Meeting place Bible: open-ended, joint reading and discovery of the Holy Scriptures.<\/li>\n
  3. Shaping faith: reflecting on and actively developing one’s own spirituality<\/li>\n
  4. Faith and everyday life: relating social and professional issues to faith<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Originally from the VBG<\/a> website[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_column_text text_lead=”yes” uncode_shortcode_id=”524261″]A reflective Christianity is the short version of an active, critical and also self-critical approach to the given faith, the Bible and opinions about these things. This lineup is not about believing in anything in particular, but about cultivating a healthy culture. This culture is open, versatile and differentiated in its debate. It’s a learning culture.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”661263″]Just as VBG has thought deeply about how to build a good faith community and what it takes to do so, there are certainly other approaches. Do you know of any other such approaches? Then I like to hear about it.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”489274″]<\/p>\n

    Open-ended<\/h3>\n

    Reflecting against my own background, I am struck by the phrase “open-ended” when it comes to the “meeting place Bible.” This stands out to me because it is often what I would most like to have seen in the various communities where I have been active. However, such a learning culture was lacking. I have experienced how dogmatically stubborn and unfree people think about the Bible, as if they had to protect believers from God’s own statements. What would happen if you implemented a different culture, encouraging one another to take God’s Word seriously and think critically about your own assumptions and alternatives?<\/p>\n

    Places where dogmatically stubborn and unfree thinking about the Bible, as if believers must be protected from God’s own statements.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

    Open-ended doesn’t mean I want you to believe what I think, but we think together. In doing so, we do not want to be focused on a specific outcome from the outset. However, one wants to set out together. Thinking together actually wants to weigh different points of view. One tries to formulate the questions openly, to examine the arguments in detail, to listen to different points of view and, if possible, to integrate them and thus come to a better understanding. And if one does not know something, then the question may remain unanswered. After all, you can still learn something later.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”189257″]<\/p>\n

    Think visionary<\/h3>\n

    We do not have to take for granted the culture in which we stand. It is familiar to us and perhaps we do not know any other culture. But that does not mean that there is no alternative. It is we ourselves who help shape our culture. Culture can be shaped, formed and may also be questioned. Are there visionary thinkers in your own community, church or congregation who can imagine and promote a more diverse culture? If we could freely form our idea of a culture once, what kind of culture would we imagine? What would be the characteristics? What tasks should such a culture have?<\/p>\n