Cognitive Dissidents

Cognitive Dissidents: 002: Confirmation Bias

Today on the Cognitive Dissidents Podcast, we discuss “Confirmation Bias”.  The idea that each of us is out looking for data and evidence that confirms our present beliefs.


9 thoughts on “Cognitive Dissidents: 002: Confirmation Bias

  1. Well done! Thank you for putting some very pertinent information together for our benefit. I look forward to more insightful and valuable podcasts.

  2. As a trained engineer it was very frustrating to listen people try to find the rule. I was able to see through that much faster than most people.

    But I do understand the problem as members of the church we have created. We have painted ourselves into a corner and sadly most members refuse to acknowledge this fact.

    Faithful members will tell you are crazy, stupid, eccentric for pointing this out to them… Truth is god is bigger, better, and more beautiful than all that…

    we will need to redefine the parameters of our religion to be more inclusive, objective, and truthful. If we can own up our mistakes, and focus on goodness and truth we will be in the place where God wants us to be, but guiding the ship in that direction will take 20 to 40 years.

    I hope as progressive members we can stick around to help the church accomplish that.

  3. Bill,…if I apply the approach from the number guy you played the clip from, and put achems razor in there, I would have to conclude the following:

    1. Book of Mormon is fiction at best
    2. Book of Abraham is a fable, and the founding story is a lie
    3. The witnesses to the Book or Mormon were not real witnesses
    4. The First Vision rests on a very week foundation and is unreliable
    5. etc…

    Without confirmation bias, I can’t support those things listed above…because there are sound arguments that discount them

    • Truth is more important than comfort and our search for truth should be encouraged no matter the expense.

      • Your supposed to doubt your doubts, including the facts… after all how reliable is that info that contradicts LDS perspective anyways? Holy Ghost didn’t bear witness to those alternative facts did they?

  4. You’re (sorry guys – hate my grammar, doesn’t help to have a second language).

  5. Very good podcast, esp the ending quote.

    Thanks for the honesty and looking at all angles.

  6. Why is your show Mormon Stories now? You have seriously become another John Dehlin. What???? Where are the choices for staying LDS? I thought your podcasts were to be offering an inspirational show. What is up, Bill?

    What is your purpose of Mormon Discussions now? I am really bothered. I don’t see the purpose in anyone supporting this show financially if you’re only just another LDS Church hater and bashing what I am trying to hold on to.

    Why are you not giving positive solutions anymore? Your podcasts are just more negativity against the LDS Church.

    Good bye! I am done with your podcasts. I don’t see any point of listening anymore if all you do is rip the LDS Church apart now.

    • Thanks for your comment though It seems very black and white to me. Why be mad at someone because their faith changes? Isn’t that normal? Isn’t it also true that we might be able to work hard and give charity in hopes that a institution or a person will adjust and change but as it or they don’t that frustration and a loss of trust occur? If my brain arrives at the conclusion that Mormonism misinterpreted itself aka – The dominant narrative is not true, Am I required to fake orthodoxy or approval simply to keep a listener entertained? to keep you happy, am I required to pretend it is better than I think? Am I required to keep my criticism to myself? simply because you feel I owed it to you?

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