The Process of Jesus’ Deification and Cognitive Dissonance Theory

The starting point of this article is the paradox that the first-century Jew, Jesus the Galilean, came to be considered divine by a sect belonging to a religion which is often deemed to be monotheistic, to the extent that many scholars refer to this phenomenon as “striking” and “puzzling.” Although...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Bermejo Rubio, Fernando (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Brill 2017
In: Numen
Year: 2017, Volume: 64, Issue: 2/3, Pages: 119-152
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Jesus Christus / Galilee / Apotheosis / Cognitive dissonance
IxTheo Classification:AD Sociology of religion; religious policy
AE Psychology of religion
HC New Testament
KBL Near East and North Africa
NBF Christology
Further subjects:B Jesus the Galilean deification cognitive dissonance selective memory cognitive work spiritualization proselytizing worship
Online Access: Volltext (Verlag)
Description
Summary:The starting point of this article is the paradox that the first-century Jew, Jesus the Galilean, came to be considered divine by a sect belonging to a religion which is often deemed to be monotheistic, to the extent that many scholars refer to this phenomenon as “striking” and “puzzling.” Although a complete survey of the cultural and religious (Jewish, Greco-Roman) contexts in which the sect of the Nazoreans — the original core group from which Christianity grew — developed its beliefs and practices is of paramount importance for understanding this phenomenon, my contention is that a historical approach should be supplemented by social science theories. In this article, I argue that cognitive dissonance theory, after having been enriched and modified by quite a few criticisms in the last several decades, contributes to making the psychological and social processes which led to Jesus’ exaltation and deification more intelligible.
ISSN:1568-5276
Contains:In: Numen
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1163/15685276-12341457