Dear Friends and Colleagues,

I first started to study the psychological phenomenon of DENIAL when I entered more fully into the dynamics of addiction and related human behavior.

Confronting the fears related to painful realities and their consequences creates for many people a powerful state of denial and a highly developed capacity for rationalization. This provides us with a form of self-deception that allows a means of escape from the truth of many situations that are too painful or complex to address or deal with. The underlying force here is that of fear which militates against love, compassion and understanding.

Currently, in our society we see large numbers of people who have entered into a state of denial over COVID-19 in spite of overwhelming scientific evidence as to its danger and its prevalence. We are seeing this phenomenon occur in reaction to the rising tide of protest over race and social justice, political and governmental failure and numerous other realities that are for many too painful or fearful to face and address – in spite of compelling historical and cultural evidence.

One of the most alarming aspects of this type of societal denial is the increasing tendency to think of truth and reality as relative terms or concepts. We retreat into denial and rationalization often using ideology as an excuse for inaction – we substitute interpretation and opinion for truth and reality.

‘Who will deliver us from the body of this death… ?’

Blessings and peace,
JOHN