Stupidity

    This post, originally published on 22 April 2011, was enlarged, and updated on 24 January 2026.

    Does anyone understand what Pope John Paul II was talking about when he said, "Stupidity is also a gift of God, but one mustn't misuse it."  Does anyone know the context within which this was said and the source of the quotation?  All I can find is the quoted sentence, repeated over and over again.

    What I believe the Pope might have meant was that we must sometimes do things which go against the current common culture. The outside world, those not part of the Body of Christ, may, and probably will, think we are foolish or even stupid. Some will find us to be offensive. When absolutely necessary, we must not back down.

    There was a historical movement of persons called Fools for Christ, some of whom bordered on the bizarre, acting in ways the world considered to be insane or nonsensical. They often adopted extreme asceticism and voluntary poverty, openly challenging many societal customs. To the world they appeared to be foolish.

    The "foolishness of the gospel" refers to 1 Corinthians 1:18-25.  The world considers the concept of a crucified savior to be absurd and offensive. They insist that they have no need for salvation or that, if they do need salvation, they can do it for themselves.

    The Pope's statement may have meant that we should not be afraid of being thought to be foolish, but we should not intentionally offend or provoke.