Cognitive Dissonance

[Zzyzx]

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Cognitive Dissonance

Frantz Fonon -- psychiatrist, philosopher, revolutionary, and writer, wisely said:

"Sometimes people hold a core belief that is very strong. When they are presented with evidence that works against that belief, the new evidence cannot be accepted. It would create a feeling that is extremely uncomfortable, called cognitive dissonance. And because it is so important to protect the core belief, they will rationalize, ignore and even deny anything that doesn't fit in with the core belief."

We often see what appear to be examples of this in threads – an apparent hands-over-ears attitude or perhaps a fetal position. Denial of any information that conflicts with religious beliefs (particularly “science� and “evolution� – the archenemies of many organized religions / religionists / preachers – when they conflict with religious tales).

An increasing number of people, however, are relieving cognitive dissonance by opening their mind to evidence that flaws exist in the beliefs they were taught to accept without question. Many are rejecting parts of the beliefs that are inconsistent with verifiable information available – or rejecting the entire belief system. Thus “Not Affiliated� is the fastest growing religious category in the US (and elsewhere in the developed world).

Or, as Belief Net, acknowledges: “Fastest Growing Religion = No Religion�
http://www.beliefnet.com/columnists/ste ... no-re.html

Religions are notoriously slow to change – and typically deny that they do change. Often it is a splintering effect (thus 40,000 Christian denominations). Often change waits until older generations die out and are replaced by less strident believers.

[Kenisaw]

[Replying to post 1 by Zzyzx]

Religious belief is one of those things that is not only drilled into us when we are young, it is a very personal thing as well. Thus it is difficult to shake off the religious shackles once we get older. People who grew up religious and aren't religious as adults will still send their kids to bible school and what not...that's how ingrained it can be.

The worm is turning however, and I think the masses are becoming increasingly aware of the reality of the universe...