Is being stupid a sin?

[Sunstone]

I'm talking about willful ignorance. as in, where a person KNOWS they can be smarter, or has a way to learn about something useful etc, but is too lazy etc to do it. i guess this could go into the whole "is laziness a sin" but let's not.

so let me restate my question. Is deliberate stupidity a sin?

I think willful ignorance is immoral, in part because it has the potential to impact others in negative ways.

 

[Hema]

I think willful ignorance is immoral, in part because it has the potential to impact others in negative ways.

How is someone willingly ignorant? Forgive me, I am unwillingly ignorant.

 

[Quiddity]

Only if you willfully choose to remain in it. Otherwise enjoy it while you can.

 

[Hema]

Only if you willfully choose to remain in it. Otherwise enjoy it while you can.

I am powerless against it. I'm swimming in it. I still have to master the back stroke.

 

[Sunstone]

How is someone willingly ignorant? Forgive me, I am unwillingly ignorant.

A willfully ignorant person denys the facts even after the facts are shown to them. Suppose my kid is caught red-handed stealing C1's collection of tattoo porn magazines, and instead of accepting the fact the kid was caught red-handed I make up a story that C1 is lying about catching her red-handed. That would be willful ignorance on my part.

 

[ChristineES]

"Being stupid" is relative. If someone has, say, a 190 IQ, someone who is above average intelligence will still seem stupid in comparison. Yet if someone has a somewhat below average IQ, he is still going to seem smart compared to someone with a 30 IQ.

I think everyone should use what intelligence we have. As to if whether they do or not is a sin, I honestly couldn't say.

 

[Scuba Pete]

My momma always told me that stupid is as stupid does.

That's all I have to say about that.

 

[PureX]

I would say that being willfully ignorant is a form of dishonesty, and would therefor be considered a "sin". It's deliberate self-deception, and any form of deception is ultimately spiritually and socially unhealthy.

 

[Hema]

A willfully ignorant person denys the facts even after the facts are shown to them. Suppose my kid is caught red-handed stealing C1's collection of tattoo porn magazines, and instead of accepting the fact the kid was caught red-handed I make up a story that C1 is lying about catching her red-handed. That would be willful ignorance on my part.

Hmm...I sort of interpreted it differently. I see stupidity as being different from ignorance. I understand about ignorance in the context you described but stupidity can just mean that someone is not as intelligent. For example, some children are slow learners. Even some adults.

 

[Circle_One]

Is being stupid a sin?

If it's not, it damn well should be!

One of my biggest pet peeves in the world is deliberate stupidity.

 

[jimbob]

If someone refuses to even consider that something's broken, how can they possibly fix it?

exactly. that's what bugs me. when someone deliberately knows they need to do or learn something, but deliberately choose ignore the problem, that's stupidity.

and Hema, when i'm talking about stupidity, i'm not talking about retardation, or mental handicaps etc, i'm talking about the general usage of the word, to describe people who COULD be, but won't take the effort to be smart.

 

[sandy whitelinger]

...any thoughts? i was thinking about this the other day, didn't really come up with a definitive answer, but thought it might be an interesting topic.

didn't the apostles claim to be ignorant and unlearned men?

 

[Hema]

and Hema, when i'm talking about stupidity, i'm not talking about retardation, or mental handicaps etc, i'm talking about the general usage of the word, to describe people who COULD be, but won't take the effort to be smart.

Smart in terms of academic knowledge or wisdom? Being smart and wise are two different things.

 

[fantome profane]

I am not much into the idea of sin, but this thread does remind me of a quote from Martin Luther King.

You have a moral responsibility to be intelligent

I think this is true. We all have a moral duty to think, and to make an effort to educate and inform ourselves. But don’t kid yourself, this is not easy. We all slip up. From time to time we all fail to think for ourselves, letting others do it for us. And we all sometimes avoid the hard work learning new things.

This is not an excuse to judge other people. I think the point is more that we have no excuses for ourselves.

 

[cardero]

fantome profane writes: I am not much into the idea of sin, but this thread does remind me of a quote from Martin Luther King.


Quote:
You have a moral responsibility to be intelligent
I think this is true. We all have a moral duty to think, and to make an effort to educate and inform ourselves. But don’t kid yourself, this is not easy. We all slip up. From time to time we all fail to think for ourselves, letting others do it for us. And we all sometimes avoid the hard work learning new things.

This is not an excuse to judge other people. I think the point is more that we have no excuses for ourselves.

The more I think about this, the more I think how impractical and subjective it is. How much knowledge should we require to be considered morally responsible? Where are we going to get our intelligent role models from? Our parents? Our preachers? Our politicians? Where should we get our education and in what areas should we be concentrating on? Should we turn to religion for this moral responsibility? Can we afford the costs of education necessary to obtain this knowledge? Should we get a library card? What books should we read? Is a killer or a bank robber who planned and got away with the perfect crime intelligent?

 

[constantine]

...any thoughts? i was thinking about this the other day, didn't really come up with a definitive answer, but thought it might be an interesting topic.

dont worry you'll still get into heaven

 

[Grian]

If "god" made someone with a low mental capacity how could it possible be wrong? I don't believe in sin, but if I did I don't think stupidity would fall under it. If you're talking about the average person choosing not to use thier perfectly good brain - that's a tragedy not a sin.

 

[Quagmire]

I'm not sure what the rules are but I would think Forrest Gump would have a better shot at Heaven than Hannibal Lecter.

Invincible ignorance is a logical fallacy.

But seriously, to address your question, yes, I believe that deliberate stupidity is a sin. Another term for this might be self-delusion.

Actually, I would argue that self-delusion is potentially the greatest sin of all.

If someone refuses to even consider that something's broken, how can they possibly fix it?

I agree. People who are in love with their misconceptions have to declare war on reality (and anyone who doesn't endorse their misconceptions).

That's why liars get elected to office and prophets get stoned.

 

[jimbob]

Smart in terms of academic knowledge or wisdom? Being smart and wise are two different things.

in terms of wisdom. academic knowldge is different, and can be a result of social class etc. wisdom is available to all. i totally appreciate yours and everyones input. except the guy who told me i would still get to heaven......i don't like sarcasm (cept when majik says it).

 

[fantome profane]

The more I think about this, the more I think how impractical and subjective it is. How much knowledge should we require to be considered morally responsible? Where are we going to get our intelligent role models from? Our parents? Our preachers? Our politicians? Where should we get our education and in what areas should we be concentrating on? Should we turn to religion for this moral responsibility? Can we afford the costs of education necessary to obtain this knowledge? Should we get a library card? What books should we read? Is a killer or a bank robber who planned and got away with the perfect crime intelligent?

I agree with you that it is completely subjective, and that is what makes it impractical to judge other people based on this concept. And I don’t believe there is a “God” who judges people and punishes them for their “sins”, so that is not even an issue for me.

But still I feel that I have a responsibility to make a effort. Which books? I can’t tell you which are the right books, but that should not be taken as an excuse to not read. What ideas? I can’t tell you that either, but that is not an excuse not to think.

It is not about a university education, it is about making use of whatever resources are available to you. And as a matter of friendly advice I would tell everyone to get a library card and use it. Public library’s are wonderful places. And it would seen that everyone who posts here, or even reads these posts has access to the internet. The internet is an extremely rich source of information. But that does not mean I will judge people who don’t have a library card, or bookmark the right sites. That is not what it is about, I am talking about personal responsibility, not public judgement.

And as for the bank robber (or Hannibal Lecter which Quagmire mentioned), I realize people use intelligence for evil purposes, but that cannot be used as an excuse. Healthy people can run from the police, that is not an excuse for not talking care of yourself.