Willful ignorance in the 17th century to
Religious Ideology
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| Taken from: betterlivingthroughbeowulf.com |
Events happening between the 17th century and
the present day demonstrate how willful ignorance can be illustrated by people
who tend to ignore what happens in their surroundings when they believe in
something. Both Daniel Defoe and recent research about stem cells demonstrate
the ideology of religion and evolution and their significant role in the way
people tend to willfully ignore modern research as they continue to believe in
a specific ideology. A Journal of the Plague by Daniel Defoe
describes how a disastrous event like the plague impacted many people. However,
the poor community was affected by the plague more so than the rich. This
was due to the fact that the affluent people were able to sway the general
population. The ideology of religion played an important role in the way people
saw things during the plague. People wanted to be protected and forgiven for
their actions. They thought that God was the only solution. The
general population was concerned about all the dangerous and contagious people
who could infect them as the plague continued. The willful ignorance
demonstrated by the people of London was seen when they put their lives in the
hands of God to forgive them while affecting other instead of thinking of other
ways to to recover from the plague.
As Defoe describes in the text, he believed that people in London
were being punished by God. Defoe mentions that, "It was indeed a
lamentable thing to hear the miserable lamentations of poor dying creatures
calling out for ministers to comfort them and pray with them, to counsel them
and to direct them, calling out to God for pardon and mercy, and confessing
aloud their past sins" [1]. As the plague continued, people who believed
in God thought that if they changed their behaviors or beliefs, the plague would
eventually disappear. One of the reasons why people in London held these
beliefs is that they were religious themselves, such as as the Anglicans who
decided to leave the churches and flee London to avoid the plague. This
illustrates that even people who were religious themselves were also willfully
ignorant of their own beliefs of religion. These people were seen to ignore the
idea that God could save them from this tragedy.
Anglicans decided to leave the church and people who still had
faith in God decided to take over churches. While people thought that they
were being punished by God, these same people believed that changing their
behavior and ideas would cure the plague. Defoe says, "God will never
forsake a family that trust in Him as thou dost" [2]. However, people did
not change their behavior nor treatment of the poor, who did not have anywhere
to go. One would think that one would change their behavior in the way to treat
other equally.
As the plague continued, the people did not observe any changes in
the city of London. Therefore, they continued to incorporate new
rules which harmed poor people in hopes to make God forgive the self-righteous
for their sins. In the same manner, one can observe the irony of ignorance and
how it plays a vital role in the people who sought forgiveness and made the
rules. These new rules harmed children, parents, and family members who could
not afford to hide anywhere else than their owner’s house. Defoe says,
"And the said watchman to do such further offices as the sick house shall
need and require; and if the watchman be sent upon any business, to lock up the
house and take the key with him... "[3]. At no point did the wealthy and
religious people consider that, by demanding specific people to stay outside
the houses of the owner’s house to keep them from being infected by the plague,
that was a sin of its own.
Willful Ignorance of People in Present Day due to the Ideology
of Evolution
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| Taken from: econolosophy.com |
Stem cells are very important for living organisms for many
reasons. Stem cells have the ability to do many things in the human body such
as to repair and regenerate damaged cells [4]. There are many diseases where
stem cells are able to replace damaged cells and regenerate new ones [5]. Stem
cells help to cure diseases and are used in treatments for birth defects and
cell therapies. These cells have the ability to differentiate and renew
themselves [5]. However, in order for doctors to proceed with these procedures
in humans, most research is done on animals first. Stem cells are vital to
medical development and our understanding of cancer and disease. While they are
necessary for embryonic development and somatic tissue repair and maintenance,
errant stem cells can cause disastrous damage. With further research, stem
cells may be invaluable to the development of new and productive sciences; the
impact that stem cells could have should not be underestimated.
Although, there are multiple resources supporting that stem
cells can help people, there are some who think otherwise. Many
factors play a role in why some feel stem cell research should not be allowed.
Some ideas mentioned by Peter Lachmann are controversial regarding how stem
cell research would only benefit wealthy people and countries because only they
can afford the research and application. Another controversy is that people who
perform these stem cell procedure, as said by Lachmann, “interfere with the
perfect creation is morally wrong” [6]. Stem cell research has caused
controversies to other approved health research. Additionally, religion plays
an important role as to why stem cell research has been met with resistance as
said by the American Baptist Churches. Religions such as Buddhism, Catholicism,
Episcopal, Evangelicals and others have other views on the research of stem
cells. All of these factors play an important role in the way one is willfully
ignorant of their surroundings and continue with current actions.
In the same manner, willful ignorance can be found in present
day in the lack of belief in Stem Cells relating to the willful ignorance
demonstrated by the people of London during the plague. Although there is scientific
research in stem cells that backs the theory of evolution, some people support
creationism suggesting that they are unreflective, close minded, and critical
in accepting of different ideologies. Religion can make it possible
to ignore other perspectives on what goes on in the world. The ideology of
religion and their willful ignorance as presented in the 17th century
is similarly portrayed in people who do not believe in evolution. Because
religion and evolution can be two contradicting ideologies, this page only
concentrate on the way that both ideologies are narrow minded only offering
support to their own beliefs and idea. Those who believe in evolution tend to
avoid hearing the ideas of those who believe in God, thinking that God does not
accept the idea of stem cells. People who believe in a certain religion use the
Bible and other religious texts to support their ideas. However, the
reluctance to hear religious ideas to stop stem cell research does not stop
scientists. People who have published several journals on stem cell research
tend to ignore religious texts are and continue their research despite
controversy.
Willful ignorance of evolution plays an important role in the way
people perceive new technology, new medicine, and new conducted research.
However, people who are willfully ignorant of evolution avoid belief in
scientific evidence just as religion affects people who surround them.
Similarly, stem cells research makes people willfully blind to accepting
evidence-based research shown to cure diseases because of their beliefs in
their religion. Research has shown that stem cell research could better the
lives of many people. It does not only mean that this makes the
destruction of embryos. This reflects the perception of the people in the 17th century
who believed that if they prayed to God and used poor people as a way to
protect themselves, they could make the plague disappear.
Willful ignorance has many definitions, some of which play an
important role in the Humanities’ texts. In order to illustrate how
these definitions have impacted many historical events, page has demonstrated
how willful ignorance had the same impact, regardless of past or present, in
the ideologies of religion and evolution. Although this blog’s main definition
is based on how the government fails to establish justice or act against
injustice which causes the individuals not to follow their obligations, click here. In addition, other Western Humanities’ texts such as
“Eichmann in Jerusalem” and “Benito Cereno” concentrate on the willful
ignorance on the privilege that people have. This page supported how the people
can show willful ignorance by ignoring their surroundings because of what they
belief in.
Citations
[1] Daniel Defoe, A Journal of the Plague [New
York:Dover Publications Inc, 2001] 79.
[2] Daniel Defoe, A Journal of the Plague [New
York:Dover Publications Inc, 2001] 83.
[3] Daniel Defoe, A Journal of the Plague [New
York:Dover Publications Inc, 2001] 30.
[4] M. M Stöppler, "Stem Cells Symptoms,
Treatment, Causes: Why are stem cells important?", MedicineNet, 2016. http://www.medicinenet.com/stem_cells/page2.htm
[5] I. Murnaghan,. Why are Stem Cells Important? Explore Stem Cells 2016. http://www.explorestemcells.co.uk/benefitsofstemcells.html
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