Personally I would not put the blame on ignorance. I think it is the fear, like greed, which got the better of many people in the times of their venerability. I strongly believe a calm mind is very critical but our mind are not calm many a times.
Thats why I see very educated god fearing people and very smart people falling victims to conman. Don't know why they made the wrong decisions at the critical junction.
how do you get a calm mind?