You ever notice when you tell someone the truth about something they often get mad? Like real mad? They look at you like you have 12 heads? They won’t even hear you out or look at what you’re trying to show them? There is a name for this phenomenon, “cognitive dissonance.” Researcher of the series “Fall of the Cabal” Janet Ossebaard does a great job of explaining:

 

Sometimes people hold a core belief that is very strong. When they are presented with evidence that works against that belief, the new evidence cannot be accepted. It creates a feeling that is extremely uncomfortable, called Cognitive Dissonance. And because it is so important to protect the core belief, they will rationalize, ignore and even deny anything that does not fit in with that core belief.

 

We willingly turn a blind eye, ignoring the truth, as a means of self-preservation. We defend a person, an institution, a tradition or belief, regardless of the evidence presented to the contrary. The reaction can range from shutting down to attacking the messenger. The more closely held the belief is, the more emotional the response. The truth is often difficult to hear and even more difficult to accept. This is not a new phenomenon. There is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9).