Ignorance is bliss!?

Question

Ignorance is bliss. Christians should not practice free inquiry nor socialize with non Christians:

Don’t associate with non-Christians. Don’t receive them into your house or even exchange greeting with them. 2 John 1:10

Shun those who disagree with your religious views. Romans 16:17

Paul, knowing that their faith would crumble if subjected to free and critical inquiry, tells his followers to avoid philosophy. Colossians 2:8

Does being a christian really mean you remain ignorant?

the bible says you should.......

Answer 1

Ignorance is not bliss. Knowledge is power. It's good to question, investigate and learn new things. I left Christianity a long time ago because it never seemed to fit in with reality, and it seemed to always butt heads with science on many levels. I read the Bible and from that point on, I decided I can't fool myself and left the Christian religion for good.

Answer 2

You have to keep in mind that these were letters that Paul was writing to specific people during a specific time period. At the time, there were several people who were attacking and trying to fool people into other beliefs. Because these Christians were knew, Paul was warning them in Romans 16:17 to stay away (that is until they had more knowledge so that that would not be so easily swayed). Its like, when your trying to figure something out for yourself, do you run to every single person asking their opinion? Many people would say no, because it confuses you and it prevents you from actually forming your own opinion. So during this time, it was best that they had a foundation of knowledge.

Christians are encouraged to speak to non-believers. Why do you think there are so many missionaries. These missionaries learn the languages of the countries they move to, they live in their culture, learning their beliefs, and sharing the word of the Lord.

So to answer your question, no being a Christian does not mean you remain ignorant. Although, there probably are Christians that are ignorant, just as they are ignorant non-Christians. No need to stereotype.

Answer 3

The 2John scripture if you read from v7 in context - you will see it's a warning that many deceivers are in the world - and those who do not acknowledge that Christ came in the flesh are deceivers. You didn't bother to read it in the context it's written - if you had you would have come to a different conclusion.
If you like I'll go through the other texts you have given and maybe help you to understand the true meaning.
This text is actually to keep us safe from frauds and fools - of which there are many in the world today.
Stay safe and be blessed.

Answer 4

Colossians 2:8
Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic priciples of the world, and not according to Christ.

Paul does not say "do not learn" or to "remain ignorant". He is warning the Colossians to beware of deceitful words.

Answer 5

You have obviously never spoken to a Christian religious leader in a denomination whose clergy must be university-educated as a condition for ordination.

Rather than clinging to a little bit of knowledge of the Bible, why don't you expand on it and see for yourself how wrong you are about "ignorant Christians"?

Answer 6

When you look historically at many of the great advances in science and society brought about by Christians (Galileo, Kepler, Wilberforce, Barnardo, etc) one has to wonder just where the 'ignorance' lies.
Sounds more like prejudice to me.

Answer 7

Ignorance loves company, wise says less and in these two sayings is the key to keeping your self smart and protected from ignorance.

Jesus however came to save the sinners. The verses you are mentioning is to the hypocrites and those that openly sin and claim to be of God.

Answer 8

All religious texts were written at a time, for the people of that time. What was suitable then needs interpretation today. It is the disagreement of that interpretation that causes all the problems in the world today!

Answer 9

I'm surprised how many people are responding with "Those are not the words of Christ." I would think they believed in the bible and used it as their spiritual guide, rather than only the words that actually came out of Jesus mouth.

And to answer the question, not necessarily. Of course, as you've shown, if you are not an ignorant christian, than you are not a good christian.

Answer 10

Paul was a bit too much of a disciplinarian for much of my taste. He also said many things against women and their roles in society. But Paul was not Jesus Christ, so I take my ques from Christ and say Love Thy Neighbor.