Love of the Truth and Cognitive Dissonance

If you do not love the truth, you will perish. And, when I say ‘perish’, I don’t just mean physical death.

If you do not love the truth, you will perish for all eternity.

And yes, the truth really is that important.

However, I will assume that you have already discovered the truth, and that you will be welcomed into the arms of our loving Father, when this life is over. So, I will turn our attention to the life that lies before you.

If you love the truth, you might live long enough to serve God to the fullest, and that is what we want.

For those who do not love the truth, they are left with Cognitive Dissonance and destruction.

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Love of the Truth and Cognitive Dissonance

Cognitive Dissonance is defined this way:

the state of having inconsistent thoughts, beliefs, or attitudes, especially as relating to behavioural decisions and attitude change.

That’s not completely accurate, so here’s another definition:

In psychology, cognitive dissonance is the mental stress or discomfort experienced by an individual who holds two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values at the same time, performs an action that is contradictory to one or more beliefs, ideas or values, or is confronted by new information that conflicts with existing beliefs, ideas, or values.

Leon Festinger’s theory of cognitive dissonance focuses on how humans strive for internal consistency. An individual who experiences inconsistency (dissonance) tends to become psychologically uncomfortable, and is motivated to try to reduce this dissonance—as well as actively avoid situations and information likely to increase it.

 – Wikipedia, Cognitive Dissonance

Here’s another dimension from ChangingMinds.org:

This is the feeling of uncomfortable tension which comes from holding two conflicting thoughts in the mind at the same time.

Dissonance increases with:

The importance of the subject to us.

How strongly the dissonant thoughts conflict.

Our inability to rationalize and explain away the conflict.

Dissonance is often strong when we believe something about ourselves and then do something against that belief. If I believe I am good but do something bad, then the discomfort I feel as a result is cognitive dissonance.

Cognitive dissonance is a very powerful motivator which will often lead us to change one or other of the conflicting belief or action. The discomfort often feels like a tension between the two opposing thoughts. To release the tension we can take one of three actions:

Change our behavior.

Justify our behavior by changing the conflicting cognition.

Justify our behavior by adding new cognitions.

Dissonance is most powerful when it is about our self-image. Feelings of foolishness, immorality and so on (including internal projections during decision-making) are dissonance in action.

If an action has been completed and cannot be undone, then the after-the-fact dissonance compels us to change our beliefs. If beliefs are moved, then the dissonance appears during decision-making, forcing us to take actions we would not have taken before.

Cognitive dissonance appears in virtually all evaluations and decisions and is the central mechanism by which we experience new differences in the world. When we see other people behave differently to our images of them, when we hold any conflicting thoughts, we experience dissonance.

Dissonance increases with the importance and impact of the decision, along with the difficulty of reversing it. Discomfort about making the wrong choice of car is bigger than when choosing a lamp.

I hope that you are beginning to notice something here. If you replace ‘cognitive dissonance’ with the words ‘feelings of guilt’, you’ll find that the there is a perfect match.

Having said that, I believe that this ‘cognitive dissonance’ is more than just ‘guilt’. To me, it’s the mental effort to change our view of reality to avoid feelings of guilt.

Here’s another definition psychology.about.com:

People tend to seek consistency in their beliefs and perceptions. So what happens when one of our beliefs conflicts with another previously held belief? The term cognitive dissonance is used to describe the feelings of discomfort that result from holding two conflicting beliefs. When there is a discrepancy between beliefs and behaviors, something must change in order to eliminate or reduce the dissonance.

Dilbert Does It Best

However, I think that Dilbert does it best:

Dilbert on Cognitive Dissonance
Dilbert on Cognitive Dissonance

Go here for other Dilbert ruminations on Cognitive Dissonance:

http://dilbert.com/search_results?terms=Cognitive+Dissonance

Choosing Fantasy Over Reality

I’m talking about this because I see ‘cognitive dissonance’ everywhere.

Why?

Because people are choosing fantasy over reality.

The truth is harsh, so people retreat into fantasy. The more they run into ‘the truth’ the more they retreat into fantasy. And, when they reach the point where they can no longer retreat, they lash out in violence and anger at the person – or idea – that is forcing them to confront reality.

Shrillness Is A Sign

Notice the shrillness of those who are saying that everything is fine, that there is nothing to worry about. As it becomes harder and harder to say this, the more agitated that shrillness becomes. Eventually the person stops his/her ears and runs away – or, attacks you.

I am discovering this everywhere, on every topic. The rapture. Predestination. Salvation. Finance. Economy. Precious metals. Israel. Patriotism. The Bible. Guns. Expatriation. Islam. Judaism. Marriage. Entertainment. Church. Symbols. God.

In fact, look at the ‘tag cloud’ to the right (on the website). Every one of those tags is connected to a MASSIVE amount of cognitive dissonance. And, the bigger the tag, the bigger the dissonant thinking among those who do not love the truth.

Love Of Lies Will Destroy You

When Paul was speaking to the church at Thessaloniki (aka, Thessalonica) about the Last Days, he said this:

And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

 – 2 Thessalonians 2:10

Let me add a corollary to that verse:

If you do not love the truth, you will embrace dangerous fantasies.

Look around you. There are people who have embraced a host of awful fantasies that are eating them alive. They may have been somewhat rational when they entered their fantasy world, but look at them ten or twenty years later.

Do You Suffer From Cognitive Dissonance?

As we see our world destroyed around us, we see people everywhere embracing their sin in a vain attempt to call it ‘good’. Unfortunately, their conscience knows better and will push them to see what is real. That internal struggle will eventually destroy them, but not before they try and destroy you.

So, let me ask you about your own ‘cognitive dissonance’.

Are you embracing a fantasy, instead of reality?

The next time that you get angry when someone tells you what they believe to be the truth, that’s a sign that you are probably suffering from ‘cognitive dissonance’.

Over the last few weeks, I have been seeing precious brothers in Christ engaged in this ‘cognitive dissonance’ when I approach them about Nathan Leal.

 

Nathan Leal

Many of you have been wanting me to lay out the results of my investigation into the situation about Nathan Leal. I understand that, and I would love to be done with this, myself. Unfortunately, every week shows me another layer of corruption – as well as ‘cognitive dissonance’ among our brothers.

Allow me to give you a ‘short’ summary.

To be honest with you, I have been hoping to find some sin on Nathan’s part, because it would make my job easier, as I attempt to bring reconciliation. I am lazy at heart, and I always want the easy way out.

However, I have found no sin on Nathan’s part. In every case and instance, both publicly and in private, I have found Nathan Leal to be honest, forthright and humble. He is not guilty of ANY of the charges leveled against him.

Please let me repeat that:

Nathan Leal is NOT GUILTY of ANY of the charges leveled against him.

Up until this past week, I had been thinking that the largest part of the guilt fell upon the shoulders of Ted Broer. To my dismay, I have found that this is not the case.

And yes, the proper word is DISMAY.

I am incredibly grieved that there is another name that is at the heart of this. This person lies within the organization bringing about the HearTheWatchmen conference in Dallas, March 18-20, 2016.

I do not believe that the speakers at this conference understand the true nature of this person. If they did, I do not think that they would have signed up to be a part of it.

Unfortunately for him, some of those speakers are beginning to find out and have been threatened by him. You will notice that three people have disappeared from the original roster of speakers.

I believe that you can do the math.

Let me be clear that I would not have known about this person, unless he had publicly attacked me, making false claims. When he did that, I began to see a deeper corruption at work. And then, some of you stepped forward – privately and publicly – with important information.

I am very upset by what I have uncovered.

You will notice that the research section below is a fraction of what it normally is. It is hard to do research when I’m that upset – in addition to the time that it has taken to uncover the facts of this situation.

Some of you will wonder if all of this effort is worth it. I believe that it is, because corruption within the Body of Christ must not be allowed. People have already come forward, talking about how damaging Ted Broer’s New Age talk has been to them, and the people that they love.

Well, there’s worse than Ted Broer.

Unfortunately, I need the time to organize it all in my thoughts, so that I can present the facts clearly.

Allow me to also leave a message to the person at the heart of all this:

Do not threaten me with a lawsuit. I will go public with any and all communication that you and your representatives make with me.

If the person at the heart of this case, repents and resigns, I will do my best to soften the blow. I do not wish anyone to feel hurt, not even those who are guilty.

But, I love the truth, and I will tell the truth.

 

I truly hope that you’ll be ready for this
(That’s a link. Click it for a discussion on preparation.)

A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.Proverbs 22:3

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If you find a flaw in my reasoning, have a question, or wish to add your own viewpoint, leave a comment on the website. Your input is truly welcome.

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