Cognitive dissonance is when we hold two or more contradictory ideas. We react by either changing our beliefs, living in denial, justifying ourselves or honestly admitting that we don't know. When we demand the original immersion baptism, but deny the original fermented communion wine, that is cognitive dissonance. When priests are coerced into celibacy without a sexual outlet and then fall into temptations that is cognitive dissonance. When doomsday prophets set dates that fail and they won’t admit to being a false prophet, but create an elaborate excuse that too is cognitive dissonance.
There is a really simple answer to cognitive dissonance. If we don’t know that something is true, then let’s admit that we don’t know. If we discover that we are wrong, let’s change rather than continue to justify error. One of the most refreshing things to my ears is to hear a fellow Christian say that they don’t know the answer to something. Now that is honesty!
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