‘I do sometimes accuse people of ignorance, but that is not intended to be an insult. I'm ignorant of lots of things. Ignorance is something that can be remedied by education.’
Dr. Richard Dawkins
It’s become a go-to maxim for atheists; ‘Everyone is born an atheist.’
While that is debatable (and is certainly debated), it is true as true can be that we – all of us - are born ignorant.
Ignorant of language.
Ignorant of familial relations.
Ignorant of math.
Ignorant of science.
Ignorant of social convention.
Ignorant of geography.
Ignorant of politics.
Ignorant of god.
When we are born, we know nothing but our own basic bodily cravings; hunger, thirst and discomfort. We all start with the same body of knowledge; which amounts to zilch. However, it takes a rather woeful commitment to maintaining ignorance that can be termed ‘willful ignorance’. For one to dedicate oneself to the maintenance of ignorance requires a commitment, an unwillingness to learn. That adamantine resistance to learning will be called ‘willful stupidity’.
There is a dreadful meme circulating that asserts comically that ‘You can’t fix stupid!’ As a former classroom teacher, I always recoil at that assertion. Teaching is the remedy for ‘stupid’; patient, directed, personal instruction is the means by which ‘stupid’ is repaired; unless the student is willful in their stupidity. One glib rejoinder to my refutation of the meme is that it is ignorance that can be remedied while stupidity is unassailable and cannot be overcome. The error in this argument concerns the common misunderstanding of the two terms; ignorance and stupidity.
The two terms are not synonymous but they are most assuredly related. I assert that while stupidity is an obstacle to learning it is not a permanent impediment, a permanent obstruction to gaining knowledge. The term ‘a slow learner’ belies the intention of the specious meme; a ‘slow-learner’ is learning, obviously, but at a pace slower than is experienced by brighter, more adept students. Hence, ignorance is rectified; information is imparted and internalized by the slow-learner.
Willful stupidity results in willful ignorance. The two in tandem are an adamant obstacle which cannot be by-passed by ordinary means. It is tantamount to one refusing to listen by plugging their ears and chanting ‘nah-nah-nah’ at full voice. Such is the scenario when a ‘Believer’ confronts information that would undermine their belief.
The willfully stupid, after hearing the most adroit and erudite presentation of basic evolution, will insist that ‘Evolution is just a theory’ and plow ahead with preposterous assertions and specious talking points of ‘Intelligent Design’ based on their own willful ignorance. One rejoinder popular with the willfully ignorant re: evolution is: “If we came from monkeys, why are there still monkeys?” This is an example of stupidity – willful stupidity. Voicing such a preposterously erroneous query reveals massive ignorance of the subject. Such a vapid thought proses obstructs the Believer from understanding the subject matter. When the biologist (or atheist) attempts to assail the presented obstacle of ignorance, the Believer will more firmly plug their ears and resume the chant of ‘Nah-nah-nah’.
A true ‘Dunning-Kruger’ moment has been reached; a state of willful stupidity is established which leads to willful ignorance.
As a former teacher with more than twenty-five years of classroom experience, I can confidently say that while each individual may have their own propensity for learning, there are some who willfully refuse to learn. One may have an intellectual hurdle to leap because of genetics, injury or social background but each person, when properly presented with information suitable to their own ability and propensity, will learn. Whether the subject is math or science or language or social convention, one learns unless one refuses to learn – is actively, purposefully opposed to learning – has chosen to be willfully stupid in order to maintain willful ignorance.
To be clear, those who are determined to remain ignorant are choosing to be stupid. That is not to say that they are intellectually deficient or adversely challenged through no fault of their own. Those who persist in their ignorance are stupid; willfully stupid and willfully ignorant.
Willful ignorance stems from a desire or a necessity to be stupid. The desire to remain ignorant might be inculcated by cultural back-ground or societal influences. Perhaps the parent or guardian is of a diminished mental capacity and/or willfully ignorant. Perhaps the necessity arises from an effort to protect that ignorance from the information that would undermine or dispel a cherished ignorance.
Much of the remainder of this book (blog) will present thoughts, hypotheses and postulations on the errancy of the Bible, the historicity of Jesus, the clay-footed foundation of the Christian Faith and an adherence to the notion of the existence of a ‘Higher Power’. In sum, much of the remainder of this book is citing willful ignorance fueled by willful stupidity.
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