Here’s a news flash: incompetent people generally lack the skills to know that they are incompetent. An article on the website of the San Francisco Chronicle <http://tinyurl.com/2uvyp> says that incompetent people tend to be “blissfully self-assured” because the same skills that lead to competence also enable us to judge competence.
Here’s a quote:
“Not only do they reach erroneous conclusions and make unfortunate choices, but their incompetence robs them of the ability to realize it,” wrote Kruger, now an assistant professor at the University of Illinois, and Dunning.
Recognizing the irony of this statement, I have to say that this applies to many when it comes to Bible study. (Pot to kettle, pot to kettle). It seems like the people who are the most self-assured are the ones who seem so utterly clueless about some of the basics of Bible interpretation.
I see a study like this as another call to humility when it comes to our conclusions. My problem is, when I get that call, I usually see it on Caller ID and let it go to the answering machine.