Matthew Hartke on How Cognitive Dissonance Theory Explains Christian Origins

Recently, Matthew Hartke published a video to his channel exploring how Cognitive Dissonance Theory (CDT) is useful in explaining the origins of the early Christ-following movement. Hartke explains what CDT is, offers examples of how cognitive dissonance has played a role in apocalyptic movements historically, and the ways in which CDT illuminates how Jesus’s unexpected death and failure to usher in the reign of God (cf. Mark 1:14-15) did not dissuade the earliest members of the movement. It’s a smart piece and Hartke is an erudite and perspicuous writer. Have a look at the video and read the corresponding script to find all the sources from which he draws.