Misinformation and Polarization Fueling Ignorance
The primary cause of the spread of ignorance is the lack of critical analysis of incoming information and the inability to clearly distinguish verified knowledge from fruitful fantasy. As noted in one source, "The problem is that the population of the country does not make an effort to discern where the boundary lies between truth and falsehood, i.e., which parts of what is published in print actually relate to science and religion, and which are the products of the authors' wild imaginations. The atmosphere of ignorance creates fertile ground for speculation in the spiritual realm, which is manifested in the emergence of parodies on religions and pseudoscience" (source: link txt, page: 12). When people stop separating objective data from subjective or fabricated assertions, an informational vacuum is created that allows erroneous views to spread widely among both believers and atheists.It should also be noted that the significant division of society into two camps—believers and atheists—contributes to deepening this problem. People often remain within closed circles where their views do not undergo serious scrutiny, leading to misunderstandings between groups. As noted in one description, "People are divided into two camps, believers and atheists, so much that they do not understand or do not want to understand each other at all, to the point that they see nothing but foolishness or self-deception in opposing beliefs" (source: link txt, page: 15). Such polarization severely limits the exchange of arguments and scientifically based data, which only reinforces ignorance in both communities.Thus, the spread of ignorance in mixed communities occurs in two main directions: firstly, due to the audience's inability to distinguish reliable information from fanciful narratives, which gives rise to an atmosphere of speculation; and secondly, due to social and ideological segregation, where each side refuses to consider the views of the other, falling into one-sided thinking. Together, these factors create conditions favorable for the preservation and deepening of ignorance regardless of the religious or atheistic orientation of the participants.