Why do many Protestants desperately ignore James 2:24?

Paul's doctrine of justification by faith and James' doctrine of justification by works are supplementary, not contradictory. Neither was opposing the teaching of the other. Paul and James were devoted friends and co-workers. James fully endorsed Paul's work (Acts 15:13-29, 21:17-26). Paul preached faith as the basis of justification before God but insisted that it must issue in the right kind of life. Faith that saves produces deeds. James was writing to those who had accepted the doctrine of justification by faith but were not living right, telling them that such faith was no faith at all. Again righteous action is evidence of genuine faith.