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Is religion just another method to resolve cognitive dissonance?

Wandering Monk

Well-Known Member
It occurred to me the other day that some of the Bible's most revered figures were pretty bad people at one point.

Abraham nearly murdered his son. Some Jewish sages say he actually killed Isaac or that Isaac's soul fled as the knife was raised.

Moses murdered a task master.

David murdered Uriah by proxy.

One way for people to resolve the conflict between the kind of person they are and they kind of person they should be is to find forgiveness from a higher power. Usually this results in a high level of piety. As the saying goes, 'he who is forgiven much, loves much.'
 

`mud

Just old
Premium Member
The piety is mostly in one's mind, not some higher power !
I really hope that there is a heaven out there for you, really !
 

exchemist

Veteran Member
It occurred to me the other day that some of the Bible's most revered figures were pretty bad people at one point.

Abraham nearly murdered his son. Some Jewish sages say he actually killed Isaac or that Isaac's soul fled as the knife was raised.

Moses murdered a task master.

David murdered Uriah by proxy.

One way for people to resolve the conflict between the kind of person they are and they kind of person they should be is to find forgiveness from a higher power. Usually this results in a high level of piety. As the saying goes, 'he who is forgiven much, loves much.'
This is not what cognitive dissonance means, though, is it?
 

Gargovic Malkav

Well-Known Member
If I've never learned how to forgive, I would've been a hateful, maybe even a dangerous man. If I've never been given forgiveness, I would've been a hated, maybe even a dead man.
 

`mud

Just old
Premium Member
It means that one is scatter-minded, no bullseye, loose cognizance.

Just like my blogs !
 

Fool

ALL in all
Premium Member
It occurred to me the other day that some of the Bible's most revered figures were pretty bad people at one point.

Abraham nearly murdered his son. Some Jewish sages say he actually killed Isaac or that Isaac's soul fled as the knife was raised.

Moses murdered a task master.

David murdered Uriah by proxy.

One way for people to resolve the conflict between the kind of person they are and they kind of person they should be is to find forgiveness from a higher power. Usually this results in a high level of piety. As the saying goes, 'he who is forgiven much, loves much.'



it seems to be a recurring thing in most religions.

Aṅgulimāla
 

Quintessence

Consults with Trees
Staff member
Premium Member
Perhaps, for religions that teach forgiveness or "salvation" from some higher power. My religion has no such teachings. Frankly, my religion creates at least as much cognitive dissonance as it resolves. Probably more, considering how at odds my religion is with mainstream culture in America. I have to participate in things that go against my religion almost constantly living in America. It's why I have a very awkward love-hate relationship with this country.
 

ecco

Veteran Member
Is religion just another method to resolve cognitive dissonance?

Religion isn't used to resolve cognitive dissonance; religion is cognitive dissonance!
 

Heyo

Veteran Member
This is not what cognitive dissonance means, though, is it?
It is.
Almost all people think of themselves as good people. But they don't always act good. There is the cognitive dissonance.
Religion solves that dissonance by forgiving the bad things.
 

sun rise

The world is on fire
Premium Member
For those that believe in a religion, it serves as a beacon and guide about how to live their lives. Those that don't believe, of course, think it's a bunch of hooey.
 

Left Coast

This Is Water
Staff member
Premium Member
It occurred to me the other day that some of the Bible's most revered figures were pretty bad people at one point.

Abraham nearly murdered his son. Some Jewish sages say he actually killed Isaac or that Isaac's soul fled as the knife was raised.

Moses murdered a task master.

David murdered Uriah by proxy.

One way for people to resolve the conflict between the kind of person they are and they kind of person they should be is to find forgiveness from a higher power. Usually this results in a high level of piety. As the saying goes, 'he who is forgiven much, loves much.'

I think that tendency exists in many people, including non-religious people. The difference is where they seek forgiveness from, whether it's other people, themselves, a higher power/deity, or some combination. Forgiveness is a necessary step, IMO, to free us from the past and enable us to live freer, more ethical lives moving forward.
 

pearl

Well-Known Member
It is.
Almost all people think of themselves as good people. But they don't always act good. There is the cognitive dissonance.
Religion solves that dissonance by forgiving the bad things.

I think cognitive dissonance more describes the state we find ourselves in when we question our core beliefs.
 

Heyo

Veteran Member
I think cognitive dissonance more describes the state we find ourselves in when we question our core beliefs.
"In the field of psychology, cognitive dissonance occurs when a person holds two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values; or participates in an action that goes against one of these three, and experiences psychological stress because of that." - Cognitive dissonance - Wikipedia

You can question without cognitive dissonance. Dissonance only occurs when there is a contradiction. E.g. you acting badly while thinking of yourself as a good person.
 

Wandering Monk

Well-Known Member
I think cognitive dissonance more describes the state we find ourselves in when we question our core beliefs.

Or that your religion expects better behavior than you are capable of. This creates guilt which needs to be resolved, hence, atonements.
 

exchemist

Veteran Member
"In the field of psychology, cognitive dissonance occurs when a person holds two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values; or participates in an action that goes against one of these three, and experiences psychological stress because of that." - Cognitive dissonance - Wikipedia

You can question without cognitive dissonance. Dissonance only occurs when there is a contradiction. E.g. you acting badly while thinking of yourself as a good person.
I don’t see any dissonance in the idea of having an ideal or goal that one falls short of. That’s pretty normal for all of us, in many different contexts.

The idea of forgiveness is just taken from a parent bringing up a child. Again it’s quite natural in a parent/child relationship. I don’t really see where dissonance comes in.
 

Heyo

Veteran Member
I don’t see any dissonance in the idea of having an ideal or goal that one falls short of.
That's because you see being good as a goal, not as a fact.
If you deeply believe to be good, failing to do good is a contradiction.
 

exchemist

Veteran Member
That's because you see being good as a goal, not as a fact.
If you deeply believe to be good, failing to do good is a contradiction.
Aha, yes I see that would certainly be a problem. But it is not how the religion I am familiar with works.
 

Heyo

Veteran Member
Aha, yes I see that would certainly be a problem. But it is not how the religion I am familiar with works.
Catholicism has made good use of that trait with confession.
I don't think it to be the main reason for religions to exist but it is how I understood @Wandering Monk's question.
 
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