Narcissism results in the inability to change one’s
position. Nothing you can say to a narcissist can change their mind or make
them admit they were wrong. This condition exists independently of the
narcissist’s beliefs, whether they be religious, political, or philosophical. Moreover,
this tendency will become amplified where groups of like-minded ideologues have
become heavily invested in their ideology of choice. The nature of their ideological
position in and of itself is immaterial. I am referring to the inability of the
narcissist to consider any information or ideas which might challenge his or
her ideological convictions.
The reason I often insist that there are no simple
solutions to the multivariate issues we face as a society is due to the complexity
of human nature. Like minded individuals will invariably seek to assuage their
discomfort when confronting information which contradicts the validity of their
belief system. Presently we are witnessing people becoming ever more entrenched
in their ideological positions who are completely convinced that they are right,
and that their opponents are wrong without ever considering any valid criticism
presented to them which counters their position.
Alternative opinions create psychological tension and inner
conflict in the ideologue. Therefore, the ideologically possessed will react with
hostility when presented with information that challenges or disproves their
beliefs. This reaction is known as “cognitive dissonance” which is the
psychological theory that explains their discomfort. It was first identified by
renowned American psychologist, researcher, and author Leon Festinger who was
responsible for developing cognitive dissonance theory as well as social
comparison theory. Challenging the dominance of behaviourism, Festinger
spearheaded methods of scientific experimentation used to study social
psychology.
So how does cognitive dissonance manifest itself? Here are a
few quotes from Dr. Festinger himself to provide some prospective:
“A man with a conviction is a hard man to change. Tell him
you disagree, and he turns away. Show him facts or figures and he questions
your sources. Appeal to logic and he fails to see your point.
We have all experienced the futility of trying to change a
strong conviction, especially if the convinced person has some investment in
his belief. We are familiar with the variety of ingenious defenses with which
people protect their convictions, managing to keep them unscathed through the
most devastating attacks.
But man’s resourcefulness goes beyond simply protecting a
belief. Suppose an individual believes something with his whole heart; suppose
further that he has a commitment to this belief, that he has taken irrevocable
actions because of it; finally, suppose that he is presented with evidence,
unequivocal and undeniable evidence, that his belief is wrong: what will
happen? The individual will frequently emerge, not only unshaken, but even more
convinced of the truth of his beliefs than ever before. Indeed, he may even
show a new fervor about convincing and converting other people to his view.” ―
Leon Festinger, When Prophecy Fails: A Social & Psychological Study of a
Modern Group that Predicted the Destruction of the World
“When people are committed to a belief and a course of
action, clear disconfirming evidence may simply result in deepened conviction
and increased proselyting. But there does seem to be a point at which the
disconfirming evidence has mounted sufficiently to cause the belief to be
rejected.” ― Leon Festinger, When Prophecy Fails: A Social and Psychological
Study of a Modern Group that Predicted the Destruction of the World
“If more and more people can be persuaded that the system
of belief is correct, then clearly it must after all be correct.” ― Leon
Festinger, When Prophecy Fails: A Social and Psychological Study of a Modern
Group that Predicted the Destruction of the World
“The existence of dissonance, being psychologically uncomfortable,
will motivate the person to try to reduce the dissonance and achieve
consonance. When dissonance is present, in addition to trying to reduce it, the
person will actively avoid situations and information which would likely
increase the dissonance.” ― Leon Festinger, A Theory of Cognitive Dissonance
We are witnessing ideological convictions deepen and divide
us under the influence of a social struggle altogether too reminiscent of the
dialectical materialism of Marx and Engels. Be aware that the governing and
globalist elite understand this phenomenon and have weaponized it to divide and
conquer us. If we cannot create a space where open discourse and inquiry will
prevail against them, then civil society will fail. Moreover, if we are unable
to develop the humility to admit that our knowledge is limited and that it will
take all of us united in voluntary cooperation to learn from one another, then we
will have screwed the proverbial pooch. There will be no turning back. Western
liberal democracy is utterly dependent upon open reasoned discourse and compromise.
Our ancestors were smart enough to know that they did not know it all which is
why they drafted constitutions and created laws to limit the arbitrary power of
the state. If we proceed on our current path the governing elite will managed
to have recreated a ruling class little different from the age of absolute monarchy.
You will often hear and read me criticize the inherent
imperfections and shortcomings of our most cherished institutions and beliefs, the
very ones I also cherish. When I was first introduced to Christ at the age of
15 the man who led me in prayer drove me home after that meeting and told me to
read the Bible from cover to cover. It was good advice but a daunting task,
especially given the depth of the metaphorical meaning of the Scriptures. Not
to mention the need for revelation to begin to come to terms with what those
stories mean. It was then I found that those who claimed to follow “the full
Gospel” were not, and undoubtedly nor does any man. Rather they had fallen prey
to the sin of pride. Narcissism after all is merely another way of describing
pride. I do not have God in a box and neither did the man who led me to Christ.
Over the years I have heard the most ridiculous and unscriptural
things stated as Gospel Truth. And I’ve seen the worse excesses of greed and
money changers in the temple. There is no humility in that kind of religion. I believe
there is an old Methodist aphorism which goes something like, “The more
religion you see in a shop keepers window the less you know is inside the shop
keeper!”
I ran into a pastor last year while out walking my wee
chihuahua in the dog park. We became involved in a discussion which is desperately
needed to be heard in the churches today, one on the nature of Postmodernism,
Critical Theory, Cancel Culture, WOKE, and Diversity, Inclusiveness and Equity,
which Dr. Gad Saad calls the “D.I.E. religion”. Specifically, how those toxic
ideologies are in fact mental pathogen xx TVs which afford those who hold them a way of
virtue signalling without ever having developed moral character. I offered the
pastor my assistance and suggested that my vodcast and blog might be useful in
assisting him with developing a speaking series which would engage Christians
in countering the prevalent social pathologies of today in a Christian setting.
Rather than except my help he turned down my offer by stating that he was too
busy drafting sermons. Yes, yet more pablum instead of feeding the believers mature
meat so that they might assume their responsibility as ambassadors of Christ. Indeed,
he was too busy to warn the believers of the present danger to society which
also threatens the Church. If we cannot criticize and counter those things which
society deems to be sacred cows, then we ourselves will be left worshipping those
very sacred cows.
I want to know when I am wrong as I am confronted by a
world of infinite complexity. I am also aware that I must be wrong in ways that
I have yet to discover. The only solution to that is to ask for Divine wisdom
as well as to cultivate the humility to know that finite creatures such as we
cannot apprehend much. Certainly, we do not have God, the very Lord of the
infinite, wrapped up neatly in our doctrinal box.
Pride resides at the apex of the seven deadly sins. Pride
is manifested by narcissistic projection, a condition where we own nothing while
projecting our inadequacies onto others. Narcissistic projection always tells you
far more about the narcissist than it does about the one whom the narcissist is
attacking. And face it, the very conditional premise of being a Christian is
based upon the realization that we are all sinners who fall far short of the
Glory of God. When I encounter Christians who are utterly unwilling to examine the
failure of the Church to be the salt of the earth, even as we are admonished to
be, I am seeing the self-same species of psychological projection that the WOKE
use when confronted with facts that they cannot handle. Cognitive dissonance belongs
to anyone arrogant enough to believe that their dogma is absolute without ever
considering evidence to the contrary.
1 Corinthians 13:12: For now we see through a glass,
darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even
as also I am known.
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