This article isn't specific to the Morg or religion in general. But it's a good explanation of the way the brain works, and it explicates why we aren't nearly as rational as we think we are. It's a wonder any of us made our way out.

http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/energy-futurist/storytelling-our-energy-future/500

'Fraid-it-also-explains-why-we're-so-screwed-ly yrs,

S

This paragraph really nailed it for me, thinking of repeating a testimony, repeating Primary songs, and listening to repeated messages from Sunday School, Priesthood, and General Conference. Special bonus points for Neil A. Maxwell's attempts at alliteration, rhyme, and other rhetorical devices:


"Kahneman offers an example in which subjects are presented with two statements identical in meaning, but where one rhymes and the other does not. In this experiment, subjects tended to ascribe more validity to one that rhymes. 'Anything that is repeated many times will appear true, or is more likely to appear true than something that is not repeated as frequently,' he explains. Conversely, when confronted with evidence that conflicts with our knowledge of the world and violates our pre-existing beliefs, we don’t believe it."

"If it doesn't fit, you must acquit."

Thank you! I'm saving this to talk with a TBM friend about later.

Really interesting.

If you have the time, here's an excellent video demosntrating how hard it can be to reach people with pre-determined world views. It's never a lost cause entirely but it seems to be a steep uphill battle.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVnQPGE36P4&feature=player_embedded

The reason it is so hard to get through to them, in my opinion, is that we are attack the weak links of Mormon logic, we are exposing their fear of dying. Mortality is a terrifying concept for those who have not properly addressed it. As long as they believe, they don't have to admit that they are going to really die.

When they do finally learn the truth, this is often the toughest issue to tackle. How many of you, after leaving the church, went through a period where you would grasp onto any straw that might give you a hope of an afterlife?

Topping