Jesus’ Deification & Cognitive Dissonance Theory
Posted: Sat Feb 24, 2024 7:09 am
Hey,
Fernando Bermejo-Rubio has been referenced here on BC&H many times WRT his book on the likelihood that Jesus associated with rebel types. I get the impression that some of our board members do not like his conclusion. Comments tend to be nit picky and generally dismissive, a well documented defensive tactic for those suffering dissonance according to Cognitive Dissonance theory.
How many were aware that F B-R has also written an article on the subject of CD and the deification of Jesus? Of course ("Aarrggh, DCH used that phrase again!!!" sez bild89) he assumes a human Jesus started the whole snowball rolling.
Bermejo-Rubio, Fernando (2017). The Process of Jesus’ Deification and Cognitive Dissonance Theory. Numen, 64(2-3), 119–152. doi:10.1163/15685276-12341457
This link takes you to a downloadable link to the PDF:
https://sci-hub.hkvisa.net/10.1163/15685276-12341457
F B-R concluded that despite early setbacks with methodology (the initial case study was marred by observers being in the middle of the action as volunteer organizers to facilitate observations, but not as direct participants in discussions) had been largely overcome by later researchers who standardized the methods for observing and testing hypotheses about CD induced thought processes. He felt it could be relied upon to help explaine the facts e have about Jesus.
In other words, the heavenly Jesus Christ figure prominent in NT & early Christian literature evolved from a revolutionary Christ, by the process of rationalization over a period of time. Every dissonant experience results in a defensive position to sustain existing beliefs when presented to challenges. If these prove over time to not reduce dissonance (maybe the rationalizer had followed up and found cracks in their assumptions and changed their minds). Again, that changing of mind to at least partly accommodate the dissonant observations is all part of CD theory. It is an endless process, and to be expected, the original positions are left far behind as new ideas and explanations take their place.
The reaction to F B-R's article, on reddit at least, was full of virulent attacks with posters unable to fathom how he could not have been convinced by the masterful exegesis if Larry Hurtado and N T Wright. I think that reactions like those make social scientists chuckle as it is exactly as predicted by CD theory.
I think it is good to look at the psychological mechanisms that cause religions and movements to evolve over time. (Aarrggh!!! DCH used the term "evolve" again!" says the true believer).
The evolution of interpretations of sacred "end time prophecies" in religious movements is clearly evident among Adventists & JWs and clearly shows that ideas evolved over time as they repeatedly coped with discomfiture after discomfiture.
Unfortunately, few folks want to admit that the theological explanations developed by early Christianity, or Judaism, or even Islam, were evolved in beliefs over time.
If you doubt the premise, then read the article. Other books on the subject are When Prophecy Fails (1956, a narration of the Case study, admitting deficiencies, warts and all), a formal book expressing the CD psychological mechanisms he thought were at work, and there was a follow up volume (I think the title was "CD after 50 years" or similar) with several articles by various researchers who described advances in the theory in the interim. Festinger, for his part, had moved on professionally decades ago and no longer feels the personal need to defend or develop the theory.
DCH
Fernando Bermejo-Rubio has been referenced here on BC&H many times WRT his book on the likelihood that Jesus associated with rebel types. I get the impression that some of our board members do not like his conclusion. Comments tend to be nit picky and generally dismissive, a well documented defensive tactic for those suffering dissonance according to Cognitive Dissonance theory.
How many were aware that F B-R has also written an article on the subject of CD and the deification of Jesus? Of course ("Aarrggh, DCH used that phrase again!!!" sez bild89) he assumes a human Jesus started the whole snowball rolling.
Bermejo-Rubio, Fernando (2017). The Process of Jesus’ Deification and Cognitive Dissonance Theory. Numen, 64(2-3), 119–152. doi:10.1163/15685276-12341457
This link takes you to a downloadable link to the PDF:
https://sci-hub.hkvisa.net/10.1163/15685276-12341457
F B-R concluded that despite early setbacks with methodology (the initial case study was marred by observers being in the middle of the action as volunteer organizers to facilitate observations, but not as direct participants in discussions) had been largely overcome by later researchers who standardized the methods for observing and testing hypotheses about CD induced thought processes. He felt it could be relied upon to help explaine the facts e have about Jesus.
In other words, the heavenly Jesus Christ figure prominent in NT & early Christian literature evolved from a revolutionary Christ, by the process of rationalization over a period of time. Every dissonant experience results in a defensive position to sustain existing beliefs when presented to challenges. If these prove over time to not reduce dissonance (maybe the rationalizer had followed up and found cracks in their assumptions and changed their minds). Again, that changing of mind to at least partly accommodate the dissonant observations is all part of CD theory. It is an endless process, and to be expected, the original positions are left far behind as new ideas and explanations take their place.
The reaction to F B-R's article, on reddit at least, was full of virulent attacks with posters unable to fathom how he could not have been convinced by the masterful exegesis if Larry Hurtado and N T Wright. I think that reactions like those make social scientists chuckle as it is exactly as predicted by CD theory.
I think it is good to look at the psychological mechanisms that cause religions and movements to evolve over time. (Aarrggh!!! DCH used the term "evolve" again!" says the true believer).
The evolution of interpretations of sacred "end time prophecies" in religious movements is clearly evident among Adventists & JWs and clearly shows that ideas evolved over time as they repeatedly coped with discomfiture after discomfiture.
Unfortunately, few folks want to admit that the theological explanations developed by early Christianity, or Judaism, or even Islam, were evolved in beliefs over time.
If you doubt the premise, then read the article. Other books on the subject are When Prophecy Fails (1956, a narration of the Case study, admitting deficiencies, warts and all), a formal book expressing the CD psychological mechanisms he thought were at work, and there was a follow up volume (I think the title was "CD after 50 years" or similar) with several articles by various researchers who described advances in the theory in the interim. Festinger, for his part, had moved on professionally decades ago and no longer feels the personal need to defend or develop the theory.
DCH