Knowledge, Reason, and Imagination

Knowledge promotes overconfidence and worse, arrogance, but charity of the heart (love, that is) looks to build up others.
- 1 Corinthians 8.1

Knowledge itself is a good thing, but when used to cause others to trip or fall it can be a dangerous tool. Just because one has knowledge, does not mean they use that knowledge well. One can have a vast amount of knowledge, but without a side of wisdom, one will use it to selfish gain.

Knowledge should lead us to look more deeply at the heart of things. Is there love at the centre? Or is it dark intentions? As we contemplate, we look at it from with scrutiny and reason. Pure rationalists would say that we Christians follow God as a consolation we create for ourselves because we are afraid of the dark. When actually, we could argue that it is they who reject love because they are afraid of the light. 

How can we reconcile the rational side with the side of truth, love, and imagination?
I think the answers can be reached through the imagination. We were given the ability to rationalize as well as create, We are meant to use both. As C.S. Lewis discovered, imagination is the mode of meaning. Reason is the mode of truth. Both must meld together using the knowledge gained. The imagination cannot run wild without restraint from reason. Reason cannot be set in itself without the exploratory realm of imagination. 

Just as we must use our learning through books and classes to gain experience in life. It does no good to solely learn and do nothing with it. That is knowledge barely used. And experience alone does not teach us the background and the depth we should dive into, in order to gain knowledge.

They are meant to be different, reason and imagination. But there should not be a widening split between them. They both constitute and invite one through the open door to awaken the mind's attention.