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The Church and The World

Humans crave belonging. We find comfort in groups that validate our identity, beliefs, and experiences. But with that comfort comes a downside: we start dividing the world into "us" and "them." Psychologists call this in-group/out-group bias, and it shows up almost everywhere, from sports teams and political parties to nations and religions.  In religious communities, this bias carries a moral weight. It’s not just “us vs. them.” It becomes “righteous vs. deceived.” This tribal thinking isn’t just about social division. It often leads to thinking errors that distort how people view others, and even themselves. Here are a few examples that show up regularly in religious in-groups: 1. “They left the church because they were offended.” Thinking error: Attribution bias When someone leaves a faith, members of the group often assume it’s due to a personal flaw such as pride, sin, or laziness. Rarely is it assumed that the person had good reasons or honest dou...
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Why Critics Should Stop Debating Mormon Theology

     For nearly two centuries, critics of Mormonism have engaged in debate after debate about its doctrines. Is God a man of flesh and bone? Are there many gods? Did Jesus and Satan really start as spiritual brothers? Is there still need for prophets?   Doctrinal rebuttals almost never land , because Mormon theology is internally coherent (so long as you accept its starting assumptions). And because of that, critics would be far more effective if they stopped trying to disprove Mormon beliefs and instead turned their attention to the foundation on which all of those beliefs rest: The Book of Mormon.

[Satire] General Conference Attendance Hits All-Time High After Rumors of Free Costco Samples at the Conference Center are Confirmed to be True

SALT LAKE CITY — General Conference attendance skyrocketed to record-breaking levels this weekend after rumors spread that free Costco samples would be available in the Conference Center following the Saturday afternoon session. Church officials were reportedly "shocked and delighted" to see every seat filled, with lines wrapping around Temple Square an hour before the session even began. "It was truly inspiring," said Elder James Crawford. "The Spirit was palpable. I haven’t seen this many people at Conference since President Hinckley’s funeral, and even that didn’t have this level of enthusiasm." The rumors began earlier in the week after an ambiguous post on the official church website mentioned "refreshments to follow." Speculation spread rapidly on social media, with one user posting, "If it’s Costco samples, I’m driving up from Arizona." Another added, "If they’ve got those mini quiches and the chicken bakes, I’m ...