Once upon a time, way back in the dark ages, when men and women only knew how to grow food and build their own houses, they used to believe men were men and women were women. Of course, they suffered from ignorance bliss. And I’m sure they had no idea what amazing and emancipating revelations were in store for future generations.

Ignorance bliss was described like this:

The British Chronicle, a few years ago, in 1786, included a poem called “The Social Fire.” And one verse, in it, described ignorance bliss with these words:

Oh! grant kind Heav’n a state like this,
Where simple ignorance is bliss,
’Tis all that I require;
Then, then—to share the joys of life,
I’d seek a kind, indulgent wife,
And bless my Social Fire.

Now, I’ll tell you, up front, I have no idea what the poet’s intention was in writing that poem. But I DO understand how not knowing something (being ignorant of it) can be a kind of relief. I’m confident that Adam and Eve understood this on a deeper level than any other people since.

But I also know, there are some things too important to remain encased in your own ignorance of the truth. Like all the goings-on of the people of this world, and principalities, powers, and rulers of darkness. Yeah, don’t ignore them.

Because they thrive on conflict. And they flourish on ignorance. And they grow exponentially on apathy. Plus, they love stirring the pot AND the kettle of human discontent. I sang about this a long time ago.

It’s about how they keep on…

Dreaming it up, they keep on scheming it up,
And then they’re blowing it up in unsuspecting faces
Groundwork is laid; they’ve got it made in the shade
But there won’t be lemonade in some eternal places

Closing their eyes; they walk right into the lies
But every person who dies will have their eyes wide open
By then it’s too late for all the people who wait
You just can’t enter The Gate with all your earthly hopin’

(chorus)

With all their best laid plans they still just come to this.
I guess they’ll remain where they are while their ignorance is…

Bliss

© 1998 Tony Funderburk  (from my song “King of Hearts”)

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