What is the word for a love of ignorance, or a distaste of knowledge?

I'm looking for a word or short phrase that encapsulates the desire to eschew new knowledge, whether it be due to a fear of change or possibly a fear of science or research as a whole.

An example might be a group of people looking to have their congressional representative allocate money elsewhere as opposed to scientific endeavors. They may claim that the "elsewhere" is of a higher priority or for the greater good, but they may really be acting out of ________ or because the group is a group of _________(s).

This example is not all-inclusive.

edit: There's a word or phrase I'm trying to think of that almost implies a sort of smugness.. A "my ignorance is better than your knowledge" kind of attitude.

Solution 1:

Anti-intellectualism is a handy (and self-explanatory) term, particularly in American politics today. It has great currency in the news media of late, largely with regard to situations such as the one described in your example.

Solution 2:

There is a rare word misosophy defined as the hatred of wisdom or knowledge.

An example from OED:

Much of modern philosophy is in fact not at all a ‘love of wisdom’ but a hatred of it so that it should appropriately be called ‘misosophy’.

_{S. H. Nasr, Ideals & Realities of Islam, 1966}

It is from the ancient Greek μισόσοϕος hating wisdom ( < μισο- miso- comb. form + -σοϕος , combining form of σοϕός wise) + -y suffix. ^[OED]

Additionally, you can call the person a misosophist.

Another similar rare word is misogrammatist, a person who hates letters or learning. [miso- comb. form + ancient Greek γράμματα ‘letters’, plural of γράμμα letter + -ist suffix].^[OED]

Solution 3:

Not precisely opposed to knowledge or intellectualism, but a close relative nonetheless is philistinism.

A philistine is one who is hostile or indifferent to culture and the arts. Adjective is philistine as in a philistine government.

This sense of philistine (no capital letter) arose as a result of a confrontation between town and gown in Jena (now in Germany), in the late 17th century; a sermon on the conflict quoted: 'the Philistines are upon you' (Judges 16). which led to an association between the townspeople and those hostile to culture. (Oxford Dictionary Online)

Solution 4:

This one just applies to your second blank: "... or because the group is a group of lowbrows."

Noun 1. lowbrow - a person who is uninterested in intellectual pursuits

Most of the “lowbrows” that I’m unfortunately related to are quite smug and happy with their close-minded condition.
(I’d officially suggest ”pretentious lowbrow,” but mine take it as a complement.)

Solution 5:

You could coin a new word from the Greek roots: gnosiphobia. Failing that, you have the already known "obscurantist".