General Discussion

I've noticed and started watching for that pattern ever since I picked up on the idea with Sarah Palin. It's also a very strong pattern in some people I know personally. They are very committed to their religion and can be very involved in the life of their church, family, whatever, but are often as ignorant as two bags of broken hammers when it comes to anything "outside" -- because they're not interested.

Also, I imagine their belief that their holy books contain all answers makes it extremely easy for them to avoid doing any homework about boring outside stuff -- that's strictly for those who cannot "see." But I suspect that egg comes after the chicken. I.e., personality > ignorance > fundamentalist religion > ignorance.

Mitt Romney fit that pattern. He's a smart, sophisticated man living a big life, but some who know him have commented that he is surprisingly ignorant about anything he doesn't actually need to know for his own business and church affairs.

And of course our best example...W, famous for astonishing ignorance long before he became famous as a president who boasted of consulting his "belly" for answers.

BTW, I've read that lack of interest in learning for the sake of knowledge does NOT apply to people of "open, mature religiosity." Very different breed from fundies.