Imperceivably Obvious The Phenomenon of Cognitive Dissonance

THE INTENSE BUZZING continued as the      nine foot Monolith stood like a silent      sentry among the baffled apes.   Mark and Eric watched as the apes slowly approached the black rectangular structure, seemingly out of place with its environment.    Just as one of the apes touched the Monolith's granite-like surface, Mark grabbed the remote and paused the tape.    "HEY!" Eric said, leaning forward in his Lazyboy.   "The movie just started."    "I don't buy it," Mark said.   "Is that Monolith supposed to represent a higher intelligence?"    "Of course."   Eric tried to snatch the remote from Mark's hand.    Mark resisted.   "Hold it, I'm not done, yet."    "Yes you are.   C'mon, start the tape."    "It's a slab of granite," Mark continued.   "How can that be a sign of intelligence?"    "It's symmetrical.   Start the tape-- "    "But it doesn't look complicated.   No lights, no dials--"    "It's making a weird noise.   The thing obviously is out of place on a prehistoric earth.   Now, start the tape!"    . . . After the apes "telepathically" gained the concept of weapons from the Monolith, the movie fast-forwarded to the year 2001, where modern man, dressed in his 21st century moon suit, now stood before the same Monolith, awed by the "obvious proof" of intelligence elsewhere in the universe.    Mark paused the tape again.   "Bogus," he said, shaking his head in disbelief.   "It's the same

plain-looking Monolith, now surrounded by 21st century technology, and it's still supposed to stand out as a sign of a higher intelligence?   Get real!"    "They found it buried on the moon," Eric said. "It's obviously not a natural by-product--it's out of place with its environment."    "Okay!"   Mark reached down and grabbed Hercules, Eric's hairless Chihuahua.   "You see this dog.   He's a lot more complicated than the usual rocks and dirt you find on this planet. Surely he proves there's a higher intelligence out there--"    "No, biological life does not necessitate a higher intelligence. Chihuahuas evolved naturally! Now, stop interrupting the movie."    Mark pointed at the screen.   "I say that Monolith 'evolved' too!"    Eric shook his head.   "Don't be silly.   We're talking two different things."    "But, suppose that monolith turned out to be a weather-hollowed granite slab with a bunch of bees inside."    "ON THE MOON?"    "NO, back there with the apes."    "We're past the apes."    "I know, but, what if it were bees making that sound, and not a machine?"    "Then it would be a natural, and not a sign of intelligence."    "But bees are complicated machines in themselves.   You're changing the rules."    "No, I'm not.   START THE TAPE!"

"Chihuahuas evolved naturally! Now, stop interrupting the movie."

ERIC, WHOSE BELIEFS deny the existence of God, is willing to accept [as] fact that the monolith in the movie 2001, A Space Odyssey points to the existence of some higher intelligence.   His conclusion is based upon a "design criteria" we all instinctively exercise as human beings. Let's examine this criteria . . . If you were walking in the desert and found a watch lying next to a rock, you would, no doubt, conclude that someone made the watch, while mere wind erosion produced the rock.    We can tell almost immediately when something is "man-made" even if we are seeing it for the first time.   Intuitively, we recognize something man-made because it displays a certain level of purposeful complexity. Mark tried to convince Eric that God exists on the basis that biological life is more complex than some plain looking monolith.   After all, if Eric assumed that a simple looking monolith was a sign of higher intelligence, then surely the complex human body would also imply a higher intelligence behind its conception. However, to Eric, what passed as a sign of intelligence in one case did not in the other.   He felt that a complex human being DID NOT imply the existence of a Creator.   Was he in denial of the obvious?   Was Eric's criteria inconsistent? If so, the WHY the inconsistency?   Why the apparent double standard?   If complexity points to intelligence in one case, why not in the other? Complexity is not enough . . . Complexity is important, but purposefulness is perhaps a greater telltale sign of intelligence. Complexity alone, without specific purpose, can still be explained away as a natural phenomenon, or just a happy coincidence.   The opposite is also true: an object's lack of

complexity does not negate the sign of intelligence if the object shows a clear sign of purpose.   The monolith in 2001 is not the most complex looking object Eric had never seen. However, once he saw that it served the specific purpose of planting a "beneficial" thought within the apes, the conclusion became obvious: some higher intelligence was behind it. It was this realization of purpose that convinced Eric, and the millions who have seen 2001, that the simple looking monolith was indeed a sign of higher intelligence in the universe. In Eric's mind, however, while the monolith's existence serves a specific purpose, human beings do not.   Eric's PERCEIVED lack of purpose behind man's existence convinced him that human beings do not imply a higher intelligence. To Eric, we may be complex, but without a specific purpose for having been created, there is no reason to conclude we were created by a higher intelligence.   Therefore, concludes Eric, there is no God. A question of purpose . . . Many people, like Eric, assume our existence ultimately has no real meaning.   Thus, their denial of God's existence is ultimately based on their denial of purpose.    So, the real issue is one of recognizing a specific purpose for our creation.   Without a reason for being made, it is very easy for anyone to conclude that we merely "evolved," no matter how complex we may seem. It may surprise you to learn that the Bible tells us we were created for a specific purpose.   The Bible even states what that purpose was, AND STILL IS: "Thou are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are

and were created" (Rev. 4:11).   Now, please note the expressed purpose for our existence; it explains the reason why so many like Eric readily deny God's existence.   Read it again: "FOR THY PLEASURE they are and were created." God derives pleasure from our willful interaction with Him.   Foremost in that interaction, is expressing our love toward Him.   The Lord Jesus Christ taught: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.   This is THE FIRST AND GREAT COMMANDMENT." Mat. 22:37-38 Loving God means obeying His commandments. Jesus said: "If ye love me, KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS" (John 14:15).   In fact, Jesus Christ was not the first to teach that obedience to God is a key reason for our existence.   King Solomon said: "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS: for THIS IS THE WHOLE DUTY OF MAN."   Eccl. 12:13 To most, being created for God's pleasure is not a very appealing purpose of one's existence. Most don't like the idea of having been created to bring God pleasure through constant submission to His will.   After all, what about us? What about OUR pleasure?   What about pleasing ourselves; controlling our own destiny; calling our own shots? A denial of purpose . . . This is why Eric's design criteria appeared inconsistent.   He resisted the implications of having been created for a purpose he didn't find appealing.   There is a psychological term for what Eric experienced: Cognitive dissonance.   A textbook entitled Psychology Its Principles and Applications, (by Engle/Snellgrove, ninth edition, pg. 421- 422), has this to say: "In cognitive dissonance, individuals are faced with a lack of agreement between two ideas, attitudes, or

beliefs.   They feel tense, uncomfortable, or frustrated.   So they try to alter their thoughts or actions to reduce this dissonance."    In other words, Eric, and millions like him, deny the fact their existence has a specific purpose because to admit a reason for one's existence is to admit that there is a higher intelligence, a Creator, responsible for them being here; purpose implies we were created. A Creator means that we don't own ourselves, making us ultimately accountable to God for our actions.   The Psychology textbook goes on to say: ". . . . We feel uncomfortable when our thinking or behavior doesn't agree with information we have about ourselves and our environment.   In cognitive dissonance, individuals realize that their thinking is inconsistent." Often, the cognitive dissonance many begin to experience at the thought of having been created, causes them "to alter their thoughts or actions to reduce this dissonance."   This means, for one thing, denying that there is a purpose for their existence.   By the way, sin can easily be justified when there is no real meaning to life. One can make up their own rules as they go along, including the blatant practice of sin.   No purpose, no accountability. The grand irony . . . To many, no accountability to a higher authority means the retention of human dignity.   But, my friend, ask yourself: how much dignity is there in the assumption that one's life is meaningless?   Wouldn't you rather know that there's real purpose to your existence?   Wouldn't you rather know your Creator?   He wants to know you; that's why He died in your place. Please read the back [below] of this pamphlet. For more information, write us. Send for a free Bible correspondence course.

IF you were to die today, are you 100% SURE
you would go to Heaven?   The Bible says
YOU CAN BE SURE (1 John 5:13).

BUT FIRST, you must realize that what keeps you from going to Heaven are your sins, because:
"...your iniquities [sins] have separated between you and your God," Isaiah 59:2.
In fact, in God's eyes YOU ARE A SINNER: "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" Romans 3:23.

SECONDLY, you must realize that there is NOTHING you can do to save yourself and earn Heaven: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."   (Eph. 2:8-9)   Baptism, good deeds, church membership, self-righteousness are all examples of good works that cannot save you, because, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he [Christ] saved us," Titus 3:5.

THE ONLY WAY you can get saved is through Jesus Christ.   He said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."   (John 14:6)   THAT'S WHY: "...while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."   Romans 5:8-9

THEREFORE: You must REPENT (change your mind); admit that you are a Hell deserving sinner and can't save yourself.   And call upon Christ, and Him alone, to save you.   "if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus [REPENT], and shalt believe in thine heart [TRUST] that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."   Romans 10:9

SEND THE LIGHT
P.O. Box 815   Fargo, ND 58107

[Christian Helps Ministry (Valley City, ND)]