Cognitive dissonance

[robvalue]

Cognitive dissonance is defined as:

The state of having inconsistent thoughts, beliefs, or attitudes, especially as relating to behavioural decisions and attitude change.

I thought it would be interest to collect some examples of this. It's an extremely common trait among theists, in fact I'm not sure I've ever talked to one who doesn't display it in at least some areas.

The human brain seems extremely good at this, and I've heard before the explanation is to be found in evolution. I won't go into that right now, but of course feel free to discuss.

Here are some of the most common examples of contradictory beliefs one person holds at the same time. They do so because one side of the belief cannot account for everything, and so they sometimes need the opposite to be true when questioned. Do they realize they do this? Do they care? It would drive me stark raving mad.

I'm not suggesting every (or indeed any) theist holds all of these contradictory pairs in their head. But they probably hold at least one, if not several. What others can you come up with?

1A) God is all powerful. God can do whatever he likes, whenever he likes, however he likes.
1B) God has arbitrary restrictions. These depend on the situation, and they explain why he had to do something in what seems like a sub-optimal way.

2A) God has a plan, and the plan doesn't change.
2B) God answers prayers, thus changing his plan.

3A) God knows everything we're going do to, before we do it, because he knows everything.
3B) We are free to make genuine choices.

4A) God is all good.
4B) God allows Satan to do evil things, even though he could easily stop him.

5A) Morality is about being a good person.
5B) Morality is about doing what god wants.

6A) Faith means my religion is correct.
6B) Faith does not mean other religions are correct.

7A) The bible is the perfect word of god.
7B) The bible has translation errors/has been corrupted/can be taken metaphorically whenever you feel like it.

8A) Evolution is true.
8B) Creationism is true.

9A) We are totally free to decide whether or not we follow god.
9B) We are offered a massive incentive for following god, and threatened with terrible punishment if we do not.

10A) It is important to god that we all have free will.
10B) It is OK for god not to step in when someone's free will is being violated by being raped or imprisoned; the free will of the offender must be preserved, but not the victim.

11A) We can know god's plan is good.
11B) We can't understand god's plan.