Try brain washing
First clue: repeating the same robotic rote phrases over and over like clockwork.
Well, I think it is all of the above. Pride, stubbornness, FEAR, brain washing, although one can only be brainwashed if they allow themselves to be. Whatever you want to call it, it is spiritual blindness. Someone mentioned standing before God all by themselves, with no one watching their 6, with nothing more than their works, which God says are filthy rags. With no one watching my 6, I believe I would be a bit shaken too. If you think the fear is bad now, wait till the time to stand before Him actually comes. I can not imagine the fear in their hearts. I imagine their knees scarred from when a mighty angel bodily forced them to their knees, as every member of Adam's race, every creature who has ever uttered a sound, will rise in one great crescendo, and declare that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God. Most will bow the knee unwillingly, but they will bow just the same. I think it is better to bow the knee now, willingly, rather than later be forced to bow the knee unwillingly.