Ignorance: A Defect, An Advantage or Both

When we are little, most of the mistakes we make we won’t get punished for because we are ignorant of making them. But as we grow older, and we gain responsibility, everything we do begins to bring consequences, either positive or negative. Eventually, every choice we make, has an effect in our environment. Ignorance, however, helps as a shield against mistakes, if we don’t know something we aren’t able to decide upon it. However, when we gain knowledge we are responsible for our own decisions, and so suffer our decisions’ consequences. The world’s beginning wasn’t the exception, or at least this is what King James Bible tries to show us. “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” –Gen.6 Line.5 Our religion will always affect in a great part the decisions we make, therefore, our religion has to describe how we can take good decisions and which are the consequences of our decisions. In humanity’s case we can see that its devastation was the result of the decisions humans made about gaining the knowledge of good and evil and the actions they made from it. By giving us possible consequences we are learning from experience and will probably think twice before making a decision. Basically we are judged, when making a decision, by the knowledge we have or could gain. In that way being ignorant or not about a subject, could be an advantage or disadvantage.

Religion also has great influence in morality and ethics, especially in what has to do with the important issue of forgiveness. Religion has a binding obligation to show its followers examples of how to deal with reactions, how to react correctly, high mindedly, God-like: “And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.” –Gen.8 Line.21 Putting forgiveness as a higher objective is crucial in the advancement of a more tolerant and compassionate society and a more peaceful personal life. Getting bogged down in the past through recrimination and constant bringing up the past imperfections and mistakes only delays evolution and growth. Change becomes dwarfed and crippled instead of flowing and harmonious. Forgiveness and letting go allows for creativity and harmony to take the lead in society. “And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.” –Gen.9 Line.15 That covenant is one that we should each take to heart for ourselves and between each other and society as a whole…a promise, a commitment that our emotions, our actions “our waters” no longer become destruction, pain, death…“a flood”.