Cognitive Dissonance

[MedicBravo]

"Sometimes people hold a core belief that is very strong."
When presented with evidence/facts that disprove/go against that belief, the new evidence cannot be accepted by that individual.
It creates a feeling that is extremely uncomfortable, called cognitive dissonance.
To them it so important to protect this subjective, core belief, they will try to rationalize, ignore, and even deny anything that doesn't fit in with their core belief.

I know a few here who easily fall under having this problem. I could list several groups but expanding on this isn't the topic.

 

[Victor VanHeerden]

"Sometimes people hold a core belief that is very strong."
When presented with evidence/facts that disprove/go against that belief, the new evidence cannot be accepted by that individual.
It creates a feeling that is extremely uncomfortable, called cognitive dissonance.
To them it so important to protect this subjective, core belief, they will try to rationalize, ignore, and even deny anything that doesn't fit in with their core belief.

I know a few here who easily fall under having this problem. I could list several groups but expanding on this isn't the topic.

Yep that would be true. Some if not most of us have pet doctrines that suit and find it difficult to change viewpoints. ASAS comes to mind. So does those who are anti an place of eternal torture called hell. During most of the history of the Church age people believed that you could lose your salvation and end up in hell a place prepared for the Devil and his Angels. Yet today somehow our modern sensibilities get in between the traditional doctrines of the Church and we kick against them by attempting to find scriptures that back us up. Whereas early Church Fathers had these two doctrines settled and set in stone as part of tradition. Hell is a place of eternal torture and salvation can be lost. Both teachings that Jesus did not hesitate to expound. Nor did Paul, Peter and the Church Fathers.