Why do smart people believe stupid things?

We see a lot of that.

An individual doesn't understand or believe the science, so they call it ideology!

Climate change is ideology, the existence of different sexual orientation is ideology, who won the presidential election is ideology, the inherent equality of races is ideology, etc., etc., etc.

 

What they are not who. And no they know exactly what they are as well so it's equal. It's not complicated at all.

The concept that your physical characteristics define who you are? Or the concept that knowing characteristics about a person offers insight into their inner self?

If it's either of those I agree it's ridiculous but nether was my claim.

 

Ideology imposing itself on various aspects of life? If say it's a fundamental component of the human condition and dates back through all recorded history. It's called bias.

People who want their ideology to be truth will insist and Even kill anybody who says otherwise.

I'm a proud heretic

No climate change is fact. The idea that it would have magically stopped at the perfect temperature 150 years ago but because humans burn coal and petroleum it has set into motion a set of events that only an authoritarian dictator can save us from is ideological.

You can't separate the science from the ideology because for you they are both the same. It's lack of self awareness

I'm betting maybe of those have nuance you didn't want to discuss either