Cognitive Dissonance--What Would You Do?

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edarlitrix

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Hello folks,

I have a bit of a problem. In case you don’t know, cognitive dissonance is when your beliefs and your actions are inconsistent and you feel uncomfortable about it, tense, anxious etc. For example, if you believe that you should (an ambiguous word but I’ll use it anyway) strive to be rational and accept the truth whatever it is, no matter how unpleasant it may be (like God doesn’t exist), but then you think the truth must be pointing in some particular direction YET you refuse to follow the truth in that direction, which contradicts your belief that you should follow the truth… then cognitive dissonance arises.

That example is also an explicit description of my problem. I have told myself that I will search for the truth and accept it no matter what, but I have found that I choose to blindly carry on my current beliefs (Christianity) for the sake of cognitive biases… Not sure which specific ones, but mostly to avoid the pain that could result from apostasy–social pariah in my family, unfulfilled need for this being called “God,” fear of further cognitive dissonance (e.g. following the Bible’s morality without actually having any reason to do so besides it makes me feel sane), fear of suicide, complete lack of motivation to do anything besides that it amuses me momentarily…

I have tried to search for truth AND be Christian at the same time, but praying/reading the Bible begin to feel like wasted efforts… What if there is no God, what am I even doing?

Anyway, my question is if you were having such a problem, what would YOU do? Not necessarily what should I do, but what would you do?
 
Good question. If it were me I would continue my search for truth and accept what I found as the best possible explanation. However, I think when it comes to Christianity we have to accept the fact that we were created with a desire to see, know, and love God. Therefore, even when things don’t seem right or we are suffering from a lack of faith, we still struggle to find God in what we do.

I guess my only advice would be not to minimize the metaphysical, spriritual, and emotional evidence just because it cannot be quantified like some other sciences can.
 
**I would place three disciplines into my daily life.

First - every day and as many times as you can, meditate on Matthew 7:7:
7 "Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! 12 So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; for this is the law and the prophets.
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**

Second - I would pray for the Theological virtue of HOPE.

Third I would begin to read about St. Padre Pio and meditate on his words to the point they become an ongoing pray in your mind.
Pray, Hope, and Don’t Worry
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I will keep you in my prayers.
 
It’s odd. My search for truth lead me to return to my faith rather than turn away form it.

What is causing your problem? Additionally, are you a Biblical literalist?
 
I think it’s important for someone to be honest with himself. What are you doing by praying, if you don’t believe there’s a God?

Having experienced the same doubts as you, here’s what I have done: I asked myself, What is important to me? I decided that even if God didn’t exist, he ought to exist.

The idea of God transcends humanity. For me, the fact that the idea of God exists, proves there is a God. Even if God is not a being, the idea of God makes him real. And since he is real, and since I am real, then it is beneficial for me to submit to him, because without him, I am nothing more than an animal.
 
I can only say what i did when faced by this exact issue myself. I embraced it. I have read the bible several times and every time i have always taken issues with different portions most specifically the story of Job.
There is one thing i will share with you after passing through the crucible of faith it is unlikely to be able to go back.
 
edarlitrix said:
Hello folks,

I have a bit of a problem. In case you don’t know, cognitive dissonance is when your beliefs and your actions are inconsistent and you feel uncomfortable about it, tense, anxious etc. For example, if you believe that you should (an ambiguous word but I’ll use it anyway) strive to be rational and accept the truth whatever it is, no matter how unpleasant it may be (like God doesn’t exist), but then you think the truth must be pointing in some particular direction YET you refuse to follow the truth in that direction, which contradicts your belief that you should follow the truth… then cognitive dissonance arises.

That example is also an explicit description of my problem. I have told myself that I will search for the truth and accept it no matter what, but I have found that I choose to blindly carry on my current beliefs (Christianity) for the sake of cognitive biases… Not sure which specific ones, but mostly to avoid the pain that could result from apostasy–social pariah in my family, unfulfilled need for this being called “God,” fear of further cognitive dissonance (e.g. following the Bible’s morality without actually having any reason to do so besides it makes me feel sane), fear of suicide, complete lack of motivation to do anything besides that it amuses me momentarily…

I have tried to search for truth AND be Christian at the same time, but praying/reading the Bible begin to feel like wasted efforts… What if there is no God, what am I even doing?

Anyway, my question is if you were having such a problem, what would YOU do? Not necessarily what should I do, but what would you do?
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I’d try to be more specific. What in your search for truth has lead you to doubt?
 
Honest doubt is to be expected in one’s religious journey, especially in the beginning. Keep searching for the Truth while meditating on the bible, and you will eventually see the Light. I find the *Book of Romans * to be especially enlightening.
 
Keep in mind too that most of us doubted about something throughout our faith journey. Many of us will have future doubts. However, in the end we find that it is these doubts that validate, confirm, and assure us in our faith in Christ.
 
Boulder257 said:
Keep in mind too that most of us doubted about something throughout our faith journey. Many of us will have future doubts. However, in the end we find that it is these doubts that validate, confirm, and assure us in our faith in Christ.
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That is not true for everyone.
 
sealoch said:
Even ‘most’ is speculative. I would stick to myself.
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“Most” is derived from the significant number of Catholics who come on this forums with some manner of doubt, and then have their questioned satisfactorily answered by other members of the forums. Using the population of the forum as a survey pool, and factoring in the number of questions that are being asked in a day, the use of the term most can be considered both appropriate and accurate.

Also, recognize that even the top level apologists and Church fathers expressed their own difficulties with certain church teachings. If the greatest minds of the Church occasionally have stumbling blocks, it is not illogical to assume that the less-informed would come across similar stumbling blocks.

Also, you know that the story of Job is allegorical, and not literal, right? It’s a teaching story, the primary focus of which is to express, quite firmly, that everything we have comes from God, and is transient in nature; and that the only true and lasting happiness that can be obtained is in God. Even if it were literal, it’s message and underlying truth would not change. God gave us all that we have through his act of creation. It is his to take, we are not owed anything by our creator.
 
ProdglArchitect said:
“Most” is derived from the significant number of Catholics who come on this forums with some manner of doubt, and then have their questioned satisfactorily answered by other members of the forums. Using the population of the forum as a survey pool, and factoring in the number of questions that are being asked in a day, the use of the term most can be considered both appropriate and accurate.

Also, recognize that even the top level apologists and Church fathers expressed their own difficulties with certain church teachings. If the greatest minds of the Church occasionally have stumbling blocks, it is not illogical to assume that the less-informed would come across similar stumbling blocks.

Also, you know that the story of Job is allegorical, and not literal, right? It’s a teaching story, the primary focus of which is to express, quite firmly, that everything we have comes from God, and is transient in nature; and that the only true and lasting happiness that can be obtained is in God. Even if it were literal, it’s message and underlying truth would not change. God gave us all that we have through his act of creation. It is his to take, we are not owed anything by our creator.
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It does not matter when you use most to describe other people it is not necessarily true. Just stick to yourself.

What he gives he can take, that is a moral message? It is not.
 
ProdglArchitect said:
“Most” is derived from the significant number of Catholics who come on this forums with some manner of doubt, and then have their questioned satisfactorily answered by other members of the forums. Using the population of the forum as a survey pool, and factoring in the number of questions that are being asked in a day, the use of the term most can be considered both appropriate and accurate.

Also, recognize that even the top level apologists and Church fathers expressed their own difficulties with certain church teachings. If the greatest minds of the Church occasionally have stumbling blocks, it is not illogical to assume that the less-informed would come across similar stumbling blocks.

Also, you know that the story of Job is allegorical, and not literal, right? It’s a teaching story, the primary focus of which is to express, quite firmly, that everything we have comes from God, and is transient in nature; and that the only true and lasting happiness that can be obtained is in God. Even if it were literal, it’s message and underlying truth would not change. God gave us all that we have through his act of creation. It is his to take, we are not owed anything by our creator.
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Thank you. I didn’t think my comment was that controversial.
 
Boulder257 said:
Thank you. I didn’t think my comment was that controversial.
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It’s not controversial it is just not verifiable nor even relevant. What the majority of people believe should not dictate what you find to be true unless there is evidence to rationally conclude it to be.
 
sealoch said:
It’s not controversial it is just not verifiable nor even relevant. What the majority of people believe should not dictate what you find to be true unless there is evidence to rationally conclude it to be.
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I understand that you feel this way. I would say that most (there is that word again 😉 ) Catholics would agree with my assessment that most have had or will have a moment where they question a part of their faith.

It is relevant because for those going through it, they know they are not alone and sometimes that brings great relief to those suffering.
 
Boulder257 said:
I understand that you feel this way. I would say that most (there is that word again 😉 ) Catholics would agree with my assessment that most have had or will have a moment where they question a part of their faith.

It is relevant because for those going through it, they know they are not alone and sometimes that brings great relief to those suffering.
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Fair enough, I merely point out that everyone does not find solace and that there are other options.
 
sealoch said:
It does not matter when you use most to describe other people it is not necessarily true. Just stick to yourself.

What he gives he can take, that is a moral message? It is not.
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Most refers to the majority, and is appropriate whether you think it is or not.

As for that being a moral message, yes, it really is. God is the author of all creation, and it is his to do with as he pleases. Your pride may prevent you from recognizing that fact, but that doesn’t make the fact any less true.

I can feel myself become less and less proper through this, so I’m going to take this time to stop this discussion before I get myself another warning. Good day to you, I pray that you return to God in the future.
 
ProdglArchitect said:
Most refers to the majority, and is appropriate whether you think it is or not.

As for that being a moral message, yes, it really is. God is the author of all creation, and it is his to do with as he pleases. Your pride may prevent you from recognizing that fact, but that doesn’t make the fact any less true.

I can feel myself become less and less proper through this, so I’m going to take this time to stop this discussion before I get myself another warning. Good day to you, I pray that you return to God in the future.
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I must still protest that it is not moral, but we will not agree thank you for the discussion.
 
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