I have struggled with this one a lot, feeling its truth, not understaning why, being confused by messages from the world which taught the opposite.
Just as it is necessary to guard the mind from ignorance, so is it equally necessary to protect it from the opposite, namely from too much knowledge and curiosity. For if we fill it with a quantity of information, ideas and thoughts, not excluding such as are vain, unsuitable and harmful, we deprive it of force, so that it is no longer able to understand clearly what is useful for our true self-correction and perfection. Therefore in relation to the knowledge of earthly things, which is not indispensable, even if it is permissible, your attitude should be as of one already dead. Always collect your mind within yourself, with all the concentration you can; and keep it free of thoughts about all worldly things. Let tales of the past and news of the present pass you by, and let all the changes in the world and its kingdoms be for you as thought they did not exist at all. If anyone brings you such news, disregard it and turn it away from your heart and imagination. Listen to what St. Basil says: ‘Let listening to worldly news be bitter food for you, and let the words of saintly men be as combs filled with honey.’ … All other enquiry and investigation is the offspring and food of self-love and pride. They are the nets and shackles of the devil; he sees the srength and firmness of will of those who pay attention to spiritual life, and strives to conquer their minds by means of such curiosity, in order to gain possession of their mind and will.
– Unseen Warfare (Lornezo Scupoli, edited by Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain and revised by Theophan the Recluse)
Really, on the face of it, the world’s “knowledge is power” mantra should be very obviously wrong to a Christian. Just rephrase it as “You will be like God”. The thought is very clearly along these lines, “You must know a lot to take care of yourself”. Rather than doing well what God has given us to do, using the gifts he has given us properly with thanks, we turn to ourselves either with pride at what we imagined we have attained for ourselves or despair at what we cannot.
Not only does it lead us down the wrong path when thinking of pure survival, the world takes it one step further and teaches that curiosity is a virtue. Out of the “vain, unsuitable and harmful” types of knowledge he listed, vain knowledge really struck me personally. Knowledge for knowledge’s sake isn’t a virtue, it is destructive in that it enfeebles us. For a God that cares very deeply about us destroying ourselves (his cherished work), this is a big deal. And for those of us with minds that easily become consumed with new challenges and interests, this is very dangerous indeed.
Let tales of the past and news of the present pass you by
I imagine this would strike most people as pure lunacy. Just watch how people react if you don’t know the latest talking points which are being fed to everyone. Listen to the strong opinions people have about things they have no personal experience with or responsibility for. See how much of their energy is spent on keeping up with these things and forming ideas about them. They imagine that their thoughts about it matter in some way like some perverse form of prayer. But this is considered responsible behaviour by the world. Ask yourself, “Do I control the world? Does this bring any benefit or peace to me or those around me?”