Wilful Ignorance

[pastac]

So often people express differing viewpoints about even the most serious of religious issues,and others get sidetracked by some of the most foolish questions imaginable. Whyis this? One of the main reasons is lack of knowledge, self-knowledge, head knowledge,leaning to their own understanding, no spiritual learning the list goes on.Many people simply do not know what the Bible teaches and twist and distort what they read. Many want to word play and get off the topic to stay in their comfort zones.
I find it a true saying that many would be surprised to learn that much ignorance of God´s wordis willful: ,You have to want to know the truth to know the truth people just don´t want to know what the Bible says (2 Peter 3:5). In Matthew 13:15 Jesus described people who closed their eyes and ears, because they did not want to understand His teachings. Folks get something in their head and that is all that matters.
I have asked myself time and time again why would anyone prefer darkness rather than light,ignorance rather than knowledge, error rather than truth? John 3:19,20 Jesussaid: “... the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness ratherthan light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.” Ignorance of the mind distorts our reasoning.
Ignorance of the heart distorts our emotions.
Ignorance of the conscience distorts our guilt.
When we have no knowledge of God's Word and do not understand God's purposes, our ignoranceis more than tragic; it is a deadly combination.
Scripture references
Numbers15:28 And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sinnethignorantly, when he sinneth by ignorance before the LORD, to make an atonementfor him; and it shall be forgiven him.
Deuteronomy19:4 And this is the case of the slayer, whichshall flee thither, that he may live: Whoso killeth his neighbour ignorantly,whom he hated not in time past;
Psalms 73:2So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
Isaiah 56:10 His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant,they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving toslumber.
Isaiah 63:16 Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father,our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.
Acts 4:13 Nowwhen they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they wereunlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them,that they had been with Jesus.
Acts 17:23 Foras I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with thisinscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, himdeclare I unto you.
Romans 1:13 NowI would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to comeunto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also,even as among other Gentiles.
Romans 10:3For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establishtheir own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
Romans 11:25For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest yeshould be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
1Corinthians 10:1 Moreover, brethren, Iwould not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under thecloud, and all passed through the sea;
1Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, Iwould not have you ignorant.
1Corinthians 14:38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
2Corinthians 1:8 For we would not,brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even oflife:
2Corinthians 2:11 Lest Satan should get anadvantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
1Thessalonians 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren,concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which haveno hope.
1 Timothy1:13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but Iobtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
Hebrews 5:2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also iscompassed with infirmity.
2 Peter 3:5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, thatby the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of thewater and in the water:
2 Peter 3:8 But,beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

 

[pastac]

As a man thinketh in his heart so is he so if you think you're right in your own mind you are right.
Even if you are wrong

here are just a few quotes from some folks you may have heard of concerning ignorance

1. The fault unknown is as a thought unacted —William Shakespeare
2. Ignorance is a form of incompetence —Natsume Söseki
3. Ignorance is like a delicate exotic fruit; touch it and the bloom is gone —Oscar Wilde
4. Ignorance like a fire does burn —Bayard Taylor Modernized from “Like a fire doth burn.”
   
5. Ignorant as dirt —Karl Shapiro
6. A man’s ignorance is as much his private property, and as precious in his own eyes, as his family Bible —Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
7. A man with little learning is like the frog who thinks its puddle a great sea —Burmese proverb
8. There are a great multitude of individuals who are like blind mules, anxious enough to kick, but can’t tell where —Josh Billings

 

[Osiyo]

I voted "NO".

Our hearts pump at a rate of 70-75 beats per minute. Though it is only weights 11 ounces an average, a healthy heart pumps 2,000 gallons of blood through 60,000 miles of blood vessels each day. Every day the heart creates enough energy to drive a van 20 miles. In a lifetime that is equivalent to driving to the moon and back. A healthy heart can do amazing things. Conversely, if our heart malfunctions, our whole body shuts down.

The same could be said of our "spiritual heart". In Scripture, the word heart represents the centre of our emotions, thinking and reasoning. It is the "command centre" of our life.

So when we read, "keep your heart with all diligence" (Prov. 4:23), it makes a lot of sense. But it's difficult advice to keep. Life will always make demands upon our time and energy that cry out for immediate attention. By comparison, taking time to read and hear God's Word and to do what it says may not shout quite so loudly at us. We may not notice the consequences of neglect right away, but over time it may give way to a spiritual heart attack.

I'm thankful God has given us His Word. We need His help not to neglect it, but to use it to align our hearts with His grace every day.

 

[ThomistColin]

I believe we do understand ignorance, but choose to ignore it.

 

[pastac]

That was the whole point of the post willful ignorance! Much like sin we understand it but do it anyway.

 

[Spokenpassage]

That was the whole point of the post willful ignorance! Much like sin we understand it but do it anyway.

That's more like arrogance, ignorance is not knowing. Those who want to be ignorant, never learn. Those who want to be arrogant...never learn either lol until they are humbled.

 

[pastac]

kinda sorta the bible says different so I guess I'll go with that but I do see how you arrived at that point
check out this
Paul in Romans 1:18,32 attributes the pre-Christian ignorance of God to "the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hinder the truth in unrighteousness" (but the margin has, with the King James Version, "hold the truth, compare 1 Corinthians 7:30, Gr"); many, however (Alford, De Wette, Meyer and others), translation "hold back the truth." A willful ignorance is also referred to in Ephesians 4:17; 2 Peter 3:5. But there is also a less blameworthy ignorance. Paul at Athens spoke of "times of ignorance" which God had "overlooked" (Acts 17:30); Paul says of himself that he "obtained mercy, because (he) did it (against Christ) ignorantly in unbelief" (1 Timothy 1:13); Peter said to the Jews (Acts 3:17) that they and their rulers rejected Christ "in ignorance" (compare 1 Corinthians 2:8); and Jesus Himself prayed for those who crucified Him:
"Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do"; (Luke 23:34); in Hebrews 5:2 the necessary qualification of a high priest is that he "can bear gently with the ignorant and erring"--those who sin in ignorance or go astray (compare 9:7, "blood, which he offereth for himself, and for the errors of the people," margin "(Greek: ignorances"). Growing light, however, brings with it increasing responsibility, and the "ignorance" that may be "overlooked" at one stage of the history of men and nations may be blameworthy and even criminal at another. W. L. Walker

 

[pastac]

Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

1 Corinthians 14:16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?

1 Corinthians 14:23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

1 Corinthians 14:24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:

2 Timothy 2:23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

2 Peter 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction

 

[pastac]

Similarity of adj ignorant

6 senses of ignorant

Sense 1
ignorant, nescient, unenlightened, unlearned, unlettered
=> uneducated (vs. educated)

Sense 2
ignorant, illiterate
=> uneducated (vs. educated)

Sense 3
ignorant, inexperienced
=> naive (vs. sophisticated), naif

Sense 4
ignorant, innocent
=> unconscious (vs. conscious)

Sense 5
unversed (vs. versed), ignorant

Sense 6
ignorant, unknowledgeable, unknowing, unwitting
=> uninformed (vs. informed)



Synonyms (Grouped by Similarity of Meaning) of verb unlearn

Sense 1
unlearn
=> forget, bury
--------------

Sense 2
unlearn
=> discard, fling, toss, toss out, toss away, chuck out, cast aside, dispose, throw out, cast out, throw away, cast away, put away
--------------

Similarity of adj unlearned

3 senses of unlearned

Sense 1
unconditioned (vs. conditioned), innate, unlearned

Sense 2
unlearned
=> unscholarly (vs. scholarly)

Sense 3
ignorant, nescient, unenlightened, unlearned, unlettered
=> uneducated (vs. educated)

 

[danalee]

So often people express differing viewpoints about even the most serious of religious issues,and others get sidetracked by some of the most foolish questions imaginable. Whyis this? One of the main reasons is lack of knowledge, self-knowledge, head knowledge,leaning to their own understanding, no spiritual learning the list goes on.Many people simply do not know what the Bible teaches and twist and distort what they read. Many want to word play and get off the topic to stay in their comfort zones.
I find it a true saying that many would be surprised to learn that much ignorance of God´s wordis willful: ,You have to want to know the truth to know the truth people just don´t want to know what the Bible says (2 Peter 3:5). In Matthew 13:15 Jesus described people who closed their eyes and ears, because they did not want to understand His teachings. Folks get something in their head and that is all that matters.
I have asked myself time and time again why would anyone prefer darkness rather than light,ignorance rather than knowledge, error rather than truth? John 3:19,20 Jesussaid: “... the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness ratherthan light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.” Ignorance of the mind distorts our reasoning.
Ignorance of the heart distorts our emotions.
Ignorance of the conscience distorts our guilt.
When we have no knowledge of God's Word and do not understand God's purposes, our ignoranceis more than tragic; it is a deadly combination.
Scripture references
Numbers15:28 And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sinnethignorantly, when he sinneth by ignorance before the LORD, to make an atonementfor him; and it shall be forgiven him.
Deuteronomy19:4 And this is the case of the slayer, whichshall flee thither, that he may live: Whoso killeth his neighbour ignorantly,whom he hated not in time past;
Psalms 73:2So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
Isaiah 56:10 His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant,they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving toslumber.
Isaiah 63:16 Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father,our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.
Acts 4:13 Nowwhen they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they wereunlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them,that they had been with Jesus.
Acts 17:23 Foras I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with thisinscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, himdeclare I unto you.
Romans 1:13 NowI would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to comeunto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also,even as among other Gentiles.
Romans 10:3For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establishtheir own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
Romans 11:25For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest yeshould be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
1Corinthians 10:1 Moreover, brethren, Iwould not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under thecloud, and all passed through the sea;
1Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, Iwould not have you ignorant.
1Corinthians 14:38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
2Corinthians 1:8 For we would not,brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even oflife:
2Corinthians 2:11 Lest Satan should get anadvantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
1Thessalonians 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren,concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which haveno hope.
1 Timothy1:13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but Iobtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
Hebrews 5:2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also iscompassed with infirmity.
2 Peter 3:5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, thatby the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of thewater and in the water:
2 Peter 3:8 But,beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

That last verse, what does it mean?

 

[Pozessed]

Were all ignorant by the very definition.

 

[pastac]

So often people express differing viewpoints about even the most serious of religious issues,and others get sidetracked by some of the most foolish questions imaginable. Whyis this? One of the main reasons is lack of knowledge, self-knowledge, head knowledge,leaning to their own understanding, no spiritual learning the list goes on.Many people simply do not know what the Bible teaches and twist and distort what they read. Many want to word play and get off the topic to stay in their comfort zones.
I find it a true saying that many would be surprised to learn that much ignorance of God´s wordis willful: ,You have to want to know the truth to know the truth people just don´t want to know what the Bible says (2 Peter 3:5). In Matthew 13:15 Jesus described people who closed their eyes and ears, because they did not want to understand His teachings. Folks get something in their head and that is all that matters.
I have asked myself time and time again why would anyone prefer darkness rather than light,ignorance rather than knowledge, error rather than truth? John 3:19,20 Jesussaid: “... the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness ratherthan light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.” Ignorance of the mind distorts our reasoning.
Ignorance of the heart distorts our emotions.
Ignorance of the conscience distorts our guilt.
When we have no knowledge of God's Word and do not understand God's purposes, our ignoranceis more than tragic; it is a deadly combination.
Scripture references
Numbers15:28 And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sinnethignorantly, when he sinneth by ignorance before the LORD, to make an atonementfor him; and it shall be forgiven him.
Deuteronomy19:4 And this is the case of the slayer, whichshall flee thither, that he may live: Whoso killeth his neighbour ignorantly,whom he hated not in time past;
Psalms 73:2So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
Isaiah 56:10 His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant,they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving toslumber.
Isaiah 63:16 Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father,our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.
Acts 4:13 Nowwhen they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they wereunlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them,that they had been with Jesus.
Acts 17:23 Foras I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with thisinscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, himdeclare I unto you.
Romans 1:13 NowI would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to comeunto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also,even as among other Gentiles.
Romans 10:3For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establishtheir own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
Romans 11:25For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest yeshould be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
1Corinthians 10:1 Moreover, brethren, Iwould not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under thecloud, and all passed through the sea;
1Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, Iwould not have you ignorant.
1Corinthians 14:38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
2Corinthians 1:8 For we would not,brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even oflife:
2Corinthians 2:11 Lest Satan should get anadvantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
1Thessalonians 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren,concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which haveno hope.
1 Timothy1:13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but Iobtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
Hebrews 5:2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also iscompassed with infirmity.
2 Peter 3:5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, thatby the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of thewater and in the water:
2 Peter 3:8 But,beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

That last verse, what does it mean?

we need no fool ourselves that we understand God's timing for his ways are far beyond ours as is his reference of time

 

[p_rehbein]

Not for nothing.........BUT........the "title" of the OP, and the question asked in the "poll" are not the same........

I would think all people who have achieved some level of education would understand what "ignorance" is............Christian or not.........

Basically, ignorance is a lack of education concerning a certain subject, or a lack of skill sets learned to be able to perform a certain task............

I know what E=MC 2 represents.......but lack the education to discuss the subject in a "learned" manner.

I know what brain surgery is............but lack the skill sets to actually perform such a task.

So, if I were to answer the question in the poll, I would say "Yes," however I have chosen to be "willfully ignorant" of the results of the poll and not answer the question.

 

[pastac]

Not for nothing.........BUT........the "title" of the OP, and the question asked in the "poll" are not the same........

I would think all people who have achieved some level of education would understand what "ignorance" is............Christian or not.........

Basically, ignorance is a lack of education concerning a certain subject, or a lack of skill sets learned to be able to perform a certain task............

I know what E=MC 2 represents.......but lack the education to discuss the subject in a "learned" manner.

I know what brain surgery is............but lack the skill sets to actually perform such a task.

So, if I were to answer the question in the poll, I would say "Yes," however I have chosen to be "willfully ignorant" of the results of the poll and not answer the question.

You are a person of interest that I love to read your replies this is part of the reason for the post to explore why some people even with a level of understanding still choose to remain ignorant to basic truths and twist and distort even their own understanding.

You speak of a lack of understanding as do I yet I lean more towards a lack of biblical understanding as far as what is sound biblical teaching versus some doctorial or theological warped thoughts. That same lack of biblical education that you speak of that causes many not to be able to discuss a subject in a learned manner simply because some choose not to study.

I like what you said about brain surgery and can apply that same analogy, some know some word but lack the skill set to apply the word in its fullness due simply to that willful ignorance I spoke of you choosing not to answer a question does not make you willfully ignorant

 

[p_rehbein]

Yes, but "willful ignorance" and not understanding what "ignorance" is are two different things...........right?

 

[pastac]

yes they are but they are interconnected they are linked to some understanding

 

[danalee]

we need no fool ourselves that we understand God's timing for his ways are far beyond ours as is his reference of time

I thought so!

Thanks

 

[pastac]

Yes, but "willful ignorance" and not understanding what "ignorance" is are two different things...........right?

would it be safe to assume that some will be ignorant by choice and some have just not learned I'm speaking of them who choose to be ignorant look at this they ignore sound doctrine and clear basic biblical truths and they rant on about nothing really causing an ignore rant! I'm making a play on words here some people don't know that they are ignorant willful or otherwise!

 

[p_rehbein]

would it be safe to assume that some will be ignorant by choice and some have just not learned I'm speaking of them who choose to be ignorant look at this they ignore sound doctrine and clear basic biblical truths and they rant on about nothing really causing an ignore rant! I'm making a play on words here

I understand what you are saying about "willful ignorance"........... and, yes, some do choose to remain ignorant in the understanding of Scripture............BUT that does not equate to them not UNDERSTANDING what "ignorance" is.......

(I to am playing on words........or, rather, on the two different statements........)

 

[pastac]

I understand what you are saying about "willful ignorance"........... and, yes, some do choose to remain ignorant in the understanding of Scripture............BUT that does not equate to them not UNDERSTANDING what "ignorance" is.......

(I to am playing on words........or, rather, on the two different statements........)

to a degree it truly does if one is ignorant or unlearned he or she cant decide until they have some truth to gauge their ignorance against. Then if a proven fact in context is not received that person chooses to be ignorant of the information.

So they truly don't have a concept of ignorance because many think they are ok right where they are in ignorance and that is ignorant. Now we have a basis for understanding but refuse truth is that not ignorance? Yes I think it is and it leads to willful ignorance. This is pointed out in scripture several times about the ignorance of men Just some thoughts