<p>If I have understood things right, I think it is some form of 'Cognitive dissonance'</p>

<p>According to wikipedia,"cognitive dissonance is the mental stress or discomfort experienced by an individual who holds two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values at the same time, or is confronted by new information that conflicts with existing beliefs, ideas, or values"</p>

<p>I remember experiencing the feel in one of the Ayn Rand books. As kids, our basic belief would be that our parents love us the most. Their love is the purest form of unconditional love. No matter what you do, they will always love and be for you for what you are. Suddenly , one day you wake up to the fact that the belief you have is entirely foolish. Your parents love you not for 'what you are' but just because 'who you are - their child'. You question yourself if your parents(as persons) would love you the same way if you had not been their kid. Because the answer to the question is a simple no. I cried at the very thought. Our mind tries to defend the previous comforting belief and disprove the new bitter realization and then helplessly experience outbursts.</p>

<p>This is more seen in case of religious beliefs as said in the quote. Your deep rooted beliefs are shattered and the mind can't smoothly accept the new version - Cognitive Dissonance, as they term it.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-26T01:42:32.160Z
I think it is inappropriate to just single out religion for discussion. I have 2 incidents recently like this that has nothing to do with religion, one was views about social etiquette conformance, and the other was about the value of fiction books. I think it is not the belief, but more of a personal psychological state that causes the rage reaction, not religion itself. Anyone with such a state of mind or tendency, regardless of the subject of belief, will display signs of this *anomaly*.
Jake
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-26T07:30:47.293Z
True. I agree it is more about the psychological state and the level of belief one has. I think religion has become a common example for reasons like a) Disproving religious beliefs have become common b) Religious beliefs are generally very deep rooted and a disproof brings in more mental stress. C)It is experienced by a lot of people.
Swathi Kalyani
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-25T14:39:52.333Z
2015-02-25T15:22:34.097Z
2015-02-25T15:22:34.097Z
Swathi Kalyani
<p>Is there a terminology or specific topic that explains the behaviour or phenomenon expressed in the following quote?</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>The greatest anomaly of belief is that it is so powerful it takes over
  the identity of a man. People of belief  believe so strongly that they
  become the belief. They are the belief. So  anything or anyone that
  questions their belief is taken as a personal  attack on themselves
  and their person. Belief is so powerful and deeply set in delusion
  that even if presented with verifiable proof and facts to the
  contrary; the believer reacts with emotional outburst ranging from
  anger to rage to violence even murder. In the case of phylogenetic
  group or culture insanity it leads to war and genocide.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-25T12:03:10.470Z
Nothing in that paragraph specifically points at religion, but I think we can generalise to any form of conviction. "it will *certainly* lead you into a crisis or rage", this is what I am after, are there literature that that can offer why this behaviour *certain* or prevalent?
Jake
<cognitive-psychology><social-psychology>
The belief becoming the self
Jake
# The belief becoming the self

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-02-24)

Is there a terminology or specific topic that explains the behaviour or phenomenon expressed in the following quote?

> The greatest anomaly of belief is that it is so powerful it takes over
> the identity of a man. People of belief believe so strongly that they
> become the belief. They are the belief. So anything or anyone that
> questions their belief is taken as a personal attack on themselves
> and their person. Belief is so powerful and deeply set in delusion
> that even if presented with verifiable proof and facts to the
> contrary; the believer reacts with emotional outburst ranging from
> anger to rage to violence even murder. In the case of phylogenetic
> group or culture insanity it leads to war and genocide.

**Tags:** cognitive-psychology, social-psychology

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Nothing in that paragraph specifically points at religion, but I think we can generalise to any form of conviction. "it will *certainly* lead you into a crisis or rage", this is what I am after, are there literature that that can offer why this behaviour *certain* or prevalent?  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-02-25. Score: 1

If I have understood things right, I think it is some form of 'Cognitive dissonance'

According to wikipedia,"cognitive dissonance is the mental stress or discomfort experienced by an individual who holds two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values at the same time, or is confronted by new information that conflicts with existing beliefs, ideas, or values"

I remember experiencing the feel in one of the Ayn Rand books. As kids, our basic belief would be that our parents love us the most. Their love is the purest form of unconditional love. No matter what you do, they will always love and be for you for what you are. Suddenly , one day you wake up to the fact that the belief you have is entirely foolish. Your parents love you not for 'what you are' but just because 'who you are - their child'. You question yourself if your parents(as persons) would love you the same way if you had not been their kid. Because the answer to the question is a simple no. I cried at the very thought. Our mind tries to defend the previous comforting belief and disprove the new bitter realization and then helplessly experience outbursts.

This is more seen in case of religious beliefs as said in the quote. Your deep rooted beliefs are shattered and the mind can't smoothly accept the new version - Cognitive Dissonance, as they term it.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I think it is inappropriate to just single out religion for discussion. I have 2 incidents recently like this that has nothing to do with religion, one was views about social etiquette conformance, and the other was about the value of fiction books. I think it is not the belief, but more of a personal psychological state that causes the rage reaction, not religion itself. Anyone with such a state of mind or tendency, regardless of the subject of belief, will display signs of this *anomaly*.  
> **username_1**: True. I agree it is more about the psychological state and the level of belief one has. I think religion has become a common example for reasons like a) Disproving religious beliefs have become common b) Religious beliefs are generally very deep rooted and a disproof brings in more mental stress. C)It is experienced by a lot of people.  

---

