Cognitive Dissonance and Changing Minds

JMJ

It is one thing to be aware of cultural land mines, but quite another to navigate them in order to help someone to broaden their perspective on the crisis of the Church.

http://web.mst.edu/~psyworld/general/dissonance/fig1.gif

Every time an action is presented (present actions of clergy etc) that is inconsistent with a belief held, it potentially will result in an explosion.

Sometimes, it is better to let the 'non-traditional Catholic to lead off the discussion - which will probably be an expression of a belief about Traditional Catholicism. In other words the statement will go something like this: You believe X.

After hours of discussions, I've reached the conclusion that when confronted with such accusatory statements , it is better to respond with a query as to why they have expressed the opinion.

Once the rationale for the belief has been made explicit, then it should be a simple task of producing information (preferably factual) that will outweigh their original beliefs. When confronted with the reality, then they will have the three choices to make as noted in the figure above.

I want to emphasize that it is critical to have an explicit understanding of the root of their 'belief' about Traditionalism before formulating a response. Otherwise, it is quite possible that the conversation will circle around, but never address, the real issues.

Above all, keep patience. If both parties allow themselves to become angry then nothing will be gained and perhaps all will be lost.

P^3
Prayer
Penance
Patience

References

Cognitive Dissonance: Explanation and References

Simply Psychology: Cognitive Dissonance

Comments

Auctorem Fidei

Can the SSPX be right about the Novus Ordo? Revision: Feb 11, 2013 On another web forum, I was engaged in a rather heated discussion about the documents of Vatican II.

Morning and Evening and other sundry Prayers

+ JMJ Along the theme of P^3 (Prayer, Penance, Patience), and for my own reference ... here is a collection of Morning and Evening prayers from the Ideal Daily Missal along with some additional prayers. In this crisis of the Church, I do not think it is possible to do too much prayer, penance and have patience. P^3

Regarding Post: Fr. Joseph Pfeiffer no longer ... now Bishop Joseph Pfeiffer (Can't see this being a problem...)

+ JMJ I've been watching the popularity of the post about Fr. Pfeiffer's attempted episcopal consecration and its continued top listing on the 'popular posts' list at the bottom of posts. After some thought, I decided that I don't want to be responsible for anyone joining Fr. Pfeiffer's 'group', however unlikely that would be at this time. So I have reverted the article to the draft state. If anyone wants it reinstated, I would ask that they comment on this post with a rationale for reinstatement. P^3

Is it sinful to attend the Novus Ordo (New Mass) - Is it Sinful to Not Attend the Novus Ordo on Sunday?

+ JMJ A non-SSPX Catholic is upset over the SSPX statements on not attending the Novus Ordo Missae. Ladies and gentlemen, what the SSPX, or at least its website editor, is advocating is a mortal sin against the Third Commandment. Unless the priest deviates from the language of the Sacramentary, the consecration, and thus the rest of Mass is to be considered valid. No one may elect not to attend Mass simply because abuses are occurring therein. Might I suggest that such absenteeism is its own abuse? The Third Commandment binds under mortal sin. Father So-And-So from the SSPX has no authority whatsoever to excuse attendance at Mass, be that Mass ever so unpalatable. Source:Restore DC Catholicism Well, this is interesting. First why does the SSPX issue this statement? Because it is sinful to put your faith in danger by attending a protestant service. It is likewise dangerous to put your faith in danger by attending a protestantized mass (ie the Novus Ordo Missae

What the heck is a congregation of "Pontifical Right"

+ JMJ In a discussion with a friend the question occurred to me that I didn't actually know was is involved in being a religious order of 'pontifical right'. I had a vague notion that this meant they reported to Rome as opposed to the local diocese. I'm also aware that, according to the accounts I have heard, the Archbishop received 'praise' and the written direction to incardinate priests directly into the SSPX. This is interesting because it implies that the SSPX priests were no longer required to incardinate in the local diocese but in the SSPX. This is something that belongs to an order of 'pontifical right'. Anyway here's some definitions: Di diritto pontificio is the Italian term for “of pontifical right” . It is given to the ecclesiastical institutions (the religious and secular institutes, societies of apostolic life) either created by the Holy See or approved by it with the formal decree, known by its Latin name, Decretu

Tradicat

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