Tag Archives: Psychology

Study of mind. Many ex-Mormons seek psychological help.

"You could have dualistic intuitions, you could have agency detection, you could see purpose in the world where none exists, but you may not necessarily develop the elaborate belief in something like a god without the proper cultural input. So these things like lock and key, they fit each other and complement each other." - Dr. Ara Norenzayan, Professor of Social Psychology at the University of British Columbia and Author | wasmormon.org
"You could have dualistic intuitions, you could have agency detection, you could see purpose in the world where none exists, but you may not necessarily develop the elaborate belief in something like a god without the proper cultural input. So these things like lock and key, they fit each other and complement each other." - Dr. Ara Norenzayan, Professor of Social Psychology at the University of British Columbia and Author
“The many religions we see around us today emerged in different societies at different times as mechanisms to solve problems of trust and cooperation... The application of evolutionary theory has really revolutionized our understanding of the origins and functions of religion.” - Azim Shariff, Social Psychologist, Professor of Psychology at the University of British Columbia | wasmormon.org
“The many religions we see around us today emerged in different societies at different times as mechanisms to solve problems of trust and cooperation... The application of evolutionary theory has really revolutionized our understanding of the origins and functions of religion.” - Azim Shariff, Social Psychologist, Professor of Psychology at the University of British Columbia
“A good example of this is fire. That's a cultural idea. If we didn't have that, we would not be able to survive because our bodies have now adapted to needing fire to predigest - that is, cook our food. And so the idea is that religion is one of these cultural ideas that similarly serves these functional roles in our lives and has done for at least 10,000 years. So what that means is that you can understand religions as they are today - today's major religions - as bearing the legacy of thousands of years of trial and error and selection so that what current religions are made up of, they're made up of those things because those served social functions in the past.” - Azim Shariff, Social Psychologist, Professor of Psychology at the University of British Columbia | wasmormon.org
“A good example of this is fire. That's a cultural idea. If we didn't have that, we would not be able to survive because our bodies have now adapted to needing fire to predigest - that is, cook our food. And so the idea is that religion is one of these cultural ideas that similarly serves these functional roles in our lives and has done for at least 10,000 years. So what that means is that you can understand religions as they are today - today's major religions - as bearing the legacy of thousands of years of trial and error and selection so that what current religions are made up of, they're made up of those things because those served social functions in the past.” - Azim Shariff, Social Psychologist, Professor of Psychology at the University of British Columbia
“Humans come into the world with not just a genetic inheritance from their parents but an entire line of cultural ideas that get passed down to them, as well. And, for about a hundred thousand years, we have been a necessarily cultural species. We have not been able to survive without the cultural knowledge that we inherit.” - Azim Shariff, Social Psychologist, Professor of Psychology at the University of British Columbia | wasmormon.org
“Humans come into the world with not just a genetic inheritance from their parents but an entire line of cultural ideas that get passed down to them, as well. And, for about a hundred thousand years, we have been a necessarily cultural species. We have not been able to survive without the cultural knowledge that we inherit.” - Azim Shariff, Social Psychologist, Professor of Psychology at the University of British Columbia
“Our mental architecture plays a really big role in the way that we entertain religious beliefs and practices around the world in predictable ways... You imbue the world, the natural world, with these kinds of spirits. Mountains have spirits, and rivers can have these agentic qualities. Natural events like hurricanes or earthquakes evoke also these kinds of agentic understanding of the world. And then from there, it's a small step to then understand or conceptualize gods or spirits as being separate, but controlling these events.” - Dr. Ara Norenzayan, Professor of Social Psychology at the University of British Columbia and Author | wasmormon.org
“Our mental architecture plays a really big role in the way that we entertain religious beliefs and practices around the world in predictable ways... You imbue the world, the natural world, with these kinds of spirits. Mountains have spirits, and rivers can have these agentic qualities. Natural events like hurricanes or earthquakes evoke also these kinds of agentic understanding of the world. And then from there, it's a small step to then understand or conceptualize gods or spirits as being separate, but controlling these events.” - Dr. Ara Norenzayan, Professor of Social Psychology at the University of British Columbia and Author
“One thing that seems to be quite common around the world and throughout history is that these gods and spirits have human-like qualities. In some cultures and traditions, it could even be physical human-like qualities... But also, even if they don't have physical qualities, they surely have mental qualities that are human-like. And that is even more common around the world, which again, verifies this idea that our anthropomorphic tendencies feature prominently in the way that our religious mind operates.” - Dr. Ara Norenzayan, Professor of Social Psychology at the University of British Columbia and Author | wasmormon.org
“One thing that seems to be quite common around the world and throughout history is that these gods and spirits have human-like qualities. In some cultures and traditions, it could even be physical human-like qualities... But also, even if they don't have physical qualities, they surely have mental qualities that are human-like. And that is even more common around the world, which again, verifies this idea that our anthropomorphic tendencies feature prominently in the way that our religious mind operates.” - Dr. Ara Norenzayan, Professor of Social Psychology at the University of British Columbia and Author
“Religious belief appears to be a human universal. Like language and other cultural systems, the exact religious beliefs that people hold in their lives depend heavily on early social experiences. Just as we grow up learning to speak the language of our family and community, so it is that we come to accept their religious beliefs as our own. Despite this obviously learned component of religion, the fact that all known societies exhibit some form of religious belief strongly suggests that there’s an innate component to human religiosity.” - David Ludden Ph.D., Psychology Professor, This Is Your Brain on Religion, 2020 | wasmormon.org
“Religious belief appears to be a human universal. Like language and other cultural systems, the exact religious beliefs that people hold in their lives depend heavily on early social experiences. Just as we grow up learning to speak the language of our family and community, so it is that we come to accept their religious beliefs as our own. Despite this obviously learned component of religion, the fact that all known societies exhibit some form of religious belief strongly suggests that there’s an innate component to human religiosity.” - David Ludden Ph.D., Psychology Professor, This Is Your Brain on Religion, 2020

Religion and Tribes

The LDS Church is Just Another Man-Made Religion One of the hardest truths to face when stepping back from Mormonism is this: The LDS Church is just a man-made religion, no more divinely authoritative than any other. That sentence alone might feel heavy, especially for a “true believing Mormon” (TBM). It cuts directly against the …

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Mormon Apologist Handbook: Argument does not Create Conviction, Lack of it Destroys Belief

Latter-day Saint apologetics—through institutions like FARMS, FAIR, and now the Interpreter Foundation—have largely operated on a defensive crouch, crafting arguments not to generate genuine conviction, but simply to keep belief from crumbling. Their aim isn’t to persuade the outsider or satisfy the seeker; it’s to keep the disillusioned member tethered, just barely. But Farrer warns …

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How to Let Religion Sabotage Your Life: A Deconstructing Mormon Perspective on Jim Palmer’s 16 Steps

Jim Palmer, a former pastor turned spiritual critic and trauma-informed coach, outlines 16 stark observations in his piece How to Let Religion Sabotage Your Life. For those deconstructing Mormonism, these steps feel less like satire and more like a checklist of lived experience: 1. Begin with the premise that there is something hopelessly and incurably …

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Fast Food Orders vs Quitting Church – McDonald’s, Messed-Up Orders, and the Commoditization of Religion

A popular meme has been making the rounds. These memes read: “McDonald’s can mess up your order 101 times and you still keep going back… One thing goes wrong at church and you quit.” This suggests that people are more forgiving of mistakes at fast-food restaurants like McDonald’s than they are of issues with a church. It …

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Life Beyond Mormonism: 10 Books and Resources That Might Help

Stepping away from a faith tradition—especially one that touches every aspect of life like Mormonism—can be both liberating and disorienting. If you’re navigating this path, you’re not alone. Many individuals have documented their experiences, researched the history, and formed supportive communities. Below are books and resources that countless people have found helpful in understanding Mormonism’s …

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What is Cognitive Dissonance?

Cognitive dissonance occurs when a person experiences discomfort due to holding conflicting beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors. To reduce this discomfort, individuals often try to reconcile these inconsistencies, either by changing their beliefs, justifying their actions, or avoiding information that exacerbates the conflict. Leon Festinger Social psychologist Leon Festinger coined the term “cognitive dissonance” in the 1950s in …

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Mormonism and The BITE Model

Determining whether The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly known as the Mormon Church) qualifies as a cult hinges on various criteria. According to the BITE model, we find evidence that it meets several characteristics associated with cults. Note that the term “cult” carries negative connotations and lacks a universally agreed-upon definition, and …

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Confirmation Bias

Confirmation bias refers to the cognitive tendency of individuals to interpret or seek out information in a way that confirms their preexisting beliefs or hypotheses. When someone experiences confirmation bias, they are more likely to notice, remember, and give greater weight to information that supports their existing beliefs, while disregarding or downplaying evidence that contradicts …

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Moroni’s Promise – A Lesson in Confirmation Bias and Elevated Emotions

In the Book of Mormon, Moroni offers a promise often cited by members of the LDS Church to confirm its truthfulness. This promise is foundational for many Mormons, providing a personal spiritual confirmation of the church’s teachings. Moroni encourages readers to ask God with a sincere heart and real intent if the Book of Mormon …

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Personal Mormon Faith Crisis Report – Introduction and Overview

The Personal Faith Crisis Report was presented to Elder Uchtdorf in 2013 by Elder Jensen so leaders could better understand what is happening and take appropriate measures to address members leaving the church as a result of a faith crisis. The gospel topic essays were part of the response to this study by the church.

Dumbo’s Feather

In the story of Dumbo, we have the little elephant with giant ears (even for an elephant) born into a circus family. His ears are so big that while his name is Jumbo, he earns the nickname Dumbo. His mother is soon imprisoned for standing up for him when he is ridiculed. Maybe she overreacts …

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