THE BLISS OF IGNORANCE

It has come to my attention that some people want to not know the truth about some of their beliefs.

This reminds me of something that my former high school teacher, John Thomas, said: “Ignorance is bliss.”

Even though I never forgot what he said, for years I couldn’t seem to whole-heartedly agree with it.

Now, I know why not. It is because (like a drug that makes a person happy) ignorance (although it may cause happiness) has some dreadful side-effects.

In some ways, ignorance is like a drug that makes a person happy but has harmful side effects.

Most people are aware that some drugs have harmful side effects, but they are not quite aware that many drugs (even some that are prescribed by doctors) do not cure an illness—they simply relieve the symptoms. And, even though a doctor may simply prescribe medicine, the patient would be better served by letting him or her know what may have caused the illness and how to prevent it.

In other words, many prescriptions may just cause you to become ignorant of the symptoms, while simultaneously causing you to become permanently dependant upon the drug for relief.

If, on the other hand, you knew what the cause and prevention were, then you could eventually be rid of the problem altogether.

I agree with John Thomas—to a point, but I do not think that ignorance is the best way to solve real problems.

However, I understand why some people feel as though they are perfectly happy with what they know that just isn’t so, and want desperately to remain ignorant of the truth—regardless of the side effects. In most cases, if not all, it is because they themselves are totally unaware of the harmful side effects caused by or exacerbated by their ignorance.

In The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12) the following could have been included:

Blessed are the ignorant for although they may be unhealthy and mentally enslaved, they will still be happy.