Hosea 4:4 Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest.  [5] Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother. [6] My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. [7] As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame.  [8] They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity.  [9] And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings.

Jeremiah 6:30 Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the LORD hath rejected them. Romans 1:28

Success is knowing and doing. It is not just knowing. The People of the WAY were the stabilizing force that brought the light of LIFE into the darkness and education to the people. The Believers insisted both on the propagation of The Way the Truth and the Life through invention and use of the printing press and a fervent Spirit of unity in Witness. It was primarily the irregular “church” that drove the superstition that allowed the power of the elite to rule in darkness.

 Unfortunately the Dark Ages is making a return or resurgence in the 21st century. Humanity is losing KNOWLEDGE at an alarming rate. The uneducated/undereducated and illiterate are being duped by the same fears that overwhelmed the people of Europe for a thousand years. These superstitions and fears were used to consolidated power in the few rich elite. These so called elite or BETTERs prayed upon the illiteracy of the populous. 

The Bible invites/encourages readers/Believers to accept God's invitation to become lifelong learners.