Atheism and agnosticism are becoming increasingly popular as church attendance declines.
A recent study investigated whether not believing in a God is due to the activation of distinct higher-order brain networks.
Non-believers are more likely to process sensory information in a more deliberate manner that involves higher cortical areas.
Religious believers are more likely to interpret information in an emotional or intuitive manner, involving more ancient brain areas.
Here at DM, we see these findings play out. MG 2.0 interprets information emotionally, not in a deliberate manner involving the higher cortical areas.
that's why the Church puts a lot of effort into brainwashing young members before they reach 18 and have an ability to think for themselves with their higher cortical areas.
The reality is that most active Mormons today are simply the product of being brought up in their parents religion.
Premise 1. Eyewitness testimony is notoriously unreliable.
Premise 2. The best evidence for the Book of Mormon is eyewitness testimony.
Conclusion. Therefore, the best evidence for the Book of Mormon is notoriously unreliable.
Atheism and agnosticism are becoming increasingly popular as church attendance declines.
A recent study investigated whether not believing in a God is due to the activation of distinct higher-order brain networks.
Non-believers are more likely to process sensory information in a more deliberate manner that involves higher cortical areas.
Religious believers are more likely to interpret information in an emotional or intuitive manner, involving more ancient brain areas.
Here at DM, we see these findings play out. MG 2.0 interprets information emotionally, not in a deliberate manner involving the higher cortical areas.
that's why the Church puts a lot of effort into brainwashing young members before they reach 18 and have an ability to think for themselves with their higher cortical areas.
The reality is that most active Mormons today are simply the product of being brought up in their parents religion.
And that's what many, if not most, critics think is true. The product of being a pure rationalist in many cases.
Ah, if you're not a Christian, are you a rationalist? (another question)
that's why the Church puts a lot of effort into brainwashing young members before they reach 18 and have an ability to think for themselves with their higher cortical areas.
The reality is that most active Mormons today are simply the product of being brought up in their parents religion.
And that's what many, if not most, critics think is true.
That’s the data. The vast majority of most established wards are people whose parents took then to Church and had them baptised at 8 years old.
You’re exhibit A. A prime example. You didn’t choose Mormonism after an independant process of searching for a religion that suited you best. It was chosen for you. No agency there. Had your parents brought you up as a Jew, you’d be promoting the idea that Judaism is God’s true religion. If you’d been brought up by Muslim parents you’d be extolling Islam. Etc.
Premise 1. Eyewitness testimony is notoriously unreliable.
Premise 2. The best evidence for the Book of Mormon is eyewitness testimony.
Conclusion. Therefore, the best evidence for the Book of Mormon is notoriously unreliable.
And that's what many, if not most, critics think is true.
That’s the data. The vast majority of most established wards are people whose parents took then to Church and had them baptised at 8 years old.
This is factually true. However, in contrast, in newer or international congregations, a higher proportion of members are converts baptized as teens or adults, and there is less generational continuity. In places like Africa this is not the norm.
You’re exhibit A. A prime example. You didn’t choose Mormonism after an independant process of searching for a religion that suited you best. It was chosen for you. No agency there. Had your parents brought you up as a Jew, you’d be promoting the idea that Judaism is God’s true religion. If you’d been brought up by Muslim parents you’d be extolling Islam. Etc.
Again, this is most probably factually true. However, for a person in the church to remain an active and believing member they need to have a series of conversion experiences along the way or they are most likely to become lukewarm or inactive. Those that don't have any significant conversion experiences or explain them away as being 'figments of emotional imagination' or the 'effects of a frenzied mind' are even more likely to leave the 'faith of their childhood/fathers'.
However, for a person in the church to remain an active and believing member they need to have a series of conversion experiences along the way or they are most likely to become lukewarm or inactive. Those that don't have any significant conversion experiences or explain them away as being 'figments of emotional imagination' or the 'effects of a frenzied mind' are even more likely to leave the 'faith of their childhood/fathers'.
You see the arrogance inherent in that baseless assertion, don't you? You also must recognise that you have no way of reliably claiming something is a 'significant conversion experience' as opposed to a 'figment of emotional imagination'. Even Elder Packer acknowledge the latter can be mistaken for the former.
Premise 1. Eyewitness testimony is notoriously unreliable.
Premise 2. The best evidence for the Book of Mormon is eyewitness testimony.
Conclusion. Therefore, the best evidence for the Book of Mormon is notoriously unreliable.
MG 2.0, do you you hail from the hill country parts of Tennessee? Maybe you along with your Neanderthal kin like knee slapping banjo music.
I am puzzled, there are times I enjoy knee slapping banjo music. I enjoy a variety of music some popular some considered more intellectual, maybe, like modern jazz or classical. I have gotten old enough to occasionally enjoy Mozart. I wonder if that is a result of lower or higher mental functions. Probably like most people I use both and find both useful. I think it is my higher function which sees the article as very shallow. Of course it is just a thin summary of something which may have more behind it than simplification appealing to those lower intuitive functions.
MG 2.0, do you you hail from the hill country parts of Tennessee? Maybe you along with your Neanderthal kin like knee slapping banjo music.
I am puzzled, there are times I enjoy knee slapping banjo music. I enjoy a variety of music some popular some considered more intellectual, maybe, like modern jazz or classical. I have gotten old enough to occasionally enjoy Mozart. I wonder if that is a result of lower or higher mental functions. Probably like most people I use both and find both useful. I think it is my higher function which sees the article as very shallow. Of course it is just a thin summary of something which may have more behind it than simplification appealing to those lower intuitive functions.
The image I was hoping to provoke was of the locals in Deliverance (1973 movie), of which I am sure MG 2.0 would fit right in with. Not those attending a blue grass festival.
"The truth has no defense against a fool determined to believe a lie." – Mark Twain
