Mental frontiers between faiths proved harder to cross than physical ones.

Evidence

The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. … This episode from Genesis (6:6) would not make intuitive sense unless we unconsciously accept that God has mental and emotional states and acts according to them. Similarly, prayer to God would be impossible without the intuitive understanding that the believer has about God’s intentions and beliefs. It follows then, that when mentalizing skills are impaired, religious belief is less intuitive. — Norenzayan, Ara, Big gods - how religion transformed…, 584 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

I realized, with genuine regret, how unthinkingly judgmental I’d been—not only of Ted, but of religious people, generally. — Dan Harris, 10 percent Happier, 161 (#qualifies, via linked claim)

I felt a sharp pain at the heart; it was no unconsidered word, it was the hard demand of one who could never have known what faith was. — Leo Tolstoy, A Confession, 194 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Faith can become a pain rather than a source of comfort. — Leo Tolstoy, A Confession, 194; Judgmental attitudes can hinder understanding of faith. — Dan Harris, 10 percent Happier, 161; Religious belief depends on mentalizing skills that imagine God’s mental states. — Norenzayan, Ara, Big gods - how religion transformed…, 584 (+2 more)

Related

• Religious belief depends on mentalizing skills that imagine God’s mental states. (similarity 0.86)
• Existential worries intensify religious belief and their appeasement diminishes it (similarity 0.79)

Broader Connections

• Religious belief depends on mentalizing skills that imagine God’s mental states. #corroborates (0.95) — Norenzayan, Ara, Big gods - how religion transformed…, 584
• Judgmental attitudes can hinder understanding of faith. #qualifies (0.90) — Dan Harris, 10 percent Happier, 161
• Faith can become a pain rather than a source of comfort. #complicates (0.85) — Leo Tolstoy, A Confession, 194
• Religious belief rests on ordinary cognition that predates motivational influence. #corroborates (0.85)
• Religious belief requires intuitive mentalizing about a personal God #qualifies (0.80)