Learning Requires Unlearning

This profound quote by Australian missiologist and theologian Alan Hirsh explains why we Christians might get severely stuck--like the Pharisees. But this quote may be quite uncomfortable, unnerving, disconcerting and disagreeable to some (Disciples are learners and learning requires unleaning):

"In the NT the disciples of Jesus are called "learners" (matheiteis). A disciple can therefore never leave learning behind, and consequently can also never leave unlearning behind. No one can learn, who is not prepared to unlearn. (Learning) is gained only by those who break out of boundaries that have been set, who venture out of fixed paths into the unknown, and who do not let their heart and head be stunted by routine. ...only by what we can unlearn do we show whether and to what extent we are capable of learning."

The most overlooked aspect of learning is the process of unlearning. Everyone has acquired knowledge that built their mountain of ideas, some still viable and others outdated or misunderstood. In order to unlearn and move forward, one must be willing to work through the process.

Learning requires unlearning because unlearning involves shedding outdated knowledge, beliefs, habits, and perspectives that no longer serve us. Unlearning requires us to critically evaluate our current understanding and be open to discarding or reevaluating it.

Unlearning is a tool that allows us to learn from a previous experience or pattern while making room for new learning. It's a deliberate process to refrain from our beliefs and habits to make room for new things.

Unlearning is important to succeed in a fast-changing world. The learn, unlearn, relearn cycle inspires critical thinking skills, such as analyzing, evaluating, and challenging knowledge to ensure it is relevant and up-to-date. 

Thus, learning requires unlearning in order to learn new things. We must be willing to let go of our old beliefs, assumptions, and habits that may hinder our ability to learn and grow.