Joan Merlo
@joanmerlo.bsky.social
Secularism, sustainability, and sporadic short stories
https://www.sacredapostasy.com/
https://medium.com/@joanmerlo
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1882419833/belief-is-death-but-it-doesnt-have-to-be
https://www.sacredapostasy.com/
https://medium.com/@joanmerlo
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1882419833/belief-is-death-but-it-doesnt-have-to-be
Free your mind
From the thick shadowy sludge
That oozes into your cranial crevices
Blocking the clarity of light
The tar that tempts you by slithering up your legs as you walk, causing you to drag your feet until it feels easier to sit motionless and give in to its engulfing power
From the thick shadowy sludge
That oozes into your cranial crevices
Blocking the clarity of light
The tar that tempts you by slithering up your legs as you walk, causing you to drag your feet until it feels easier to sit motionless and give in to its engulfing power
October 25, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Free your mind
From the thick shadowy sludge
That oozes into your cranial crevices
Blocking the clarity of light
The tar that tempts you by slithering up your legs as you walk, causing you to drag your feet until it feels easier to sit motionless and give in to its engulfing power
From the thick shadowy sludge
That oozes into your cranial crevices
Blocking the clarity of light
The tar that tempts you by slithering up your legs as you walk, causing you to drag your feet until it feels easier to sit motionless and give in to its engulfing power
Do you know the secret handshakes to get into heaven?
If you've never been through a Mormon temple ceremony or joined a Masonic lodge, then the answer is no.
Lucky for you, I drew them. Should I make prints so you don't forget? 😝
sacredapostasy.substack.com/p/learning-h...
If you've never been through a Mormon temple ceremony or joined a Masonic lodge, then the answer is no.
Lucky for you, I drew them. Should I make prints so you don't forget? 😝
sacredapostasy.substack.com/p/learning-h...
July 31, 2025 at 3:31 AM
Do you know the secret handshakes to get into heaven?
If you've never been through a Mormon temple ceremony or joined a Masonic lodge, then the answer is no.
Lucky for you, I drew them. Should I make prints so you don't forget? 😝
sacredapostasy.substack.com/p/learning-h...
If you've never been through a Mormon temple ceremony or joined a Masonic lodge, then the answer is no.
Lucky for you, I drew them. Should I make prints so you don't forget? 😝
sacredapostasy.substack.com/p/learning-h...
Have you ever felt hijacked by your own mind? 🧠
Story time:
I wanted to crawl into a virtual hole.
It was my second day at a new job, in a new career position, and I was in a meeting with my boss and several members of the executive team. They asked me for an update on a project.
Silence.
Story time:
I wanted to crawl into a virtual hole.
It was my second day at a new job, in a new career position, and I was in a meeting with my boss and several members of the executive team. They asked me for an update on a project.
Silence.
June 23, 2025 at 12:49 AM
Have you ever felt hijacked by your own mind? 🧠
Story time:
I wanted to crawl into a virtual hole.
It was my second day at a new job, in a new career position, and I was in a meeting with my boss and several members of the executive team. They asked me for an update on a project.
Silence.
Story time:
I wanted to crawl into a virtual hole.
It was my second day at a new job, in a new career position, and I was in a meeting with my boss and several members of the executive team. They asked me for an update on a project.
Silence.
“Every generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the one that went before it, and wiser than the one that comes after it.”
-George Orwell
...
“So you just think you’re smarter than my generation, my father’s generation, and his father’s?”
-George Orwell
...
“So you just think you’re smarter than my generation, my father’s generation, and his father’s?”
June 15, 2025 at 1:10 AM
“Every generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the one that went before it, and wiser than the one that comes after it.”
-George Orwell
...
“So you just think you’re smarter than my generation, my father’s generation, and his father’s?”
-George Orwell
...
“So you just think you’re smarter than my generation, my father’s generation, and his father’s?”
Happy Pride!
Read the full post for free here: sacredapostasy.substack.com/p/i-used-to-...
Read the full post for free here: sacredapostasy.substack.com/p/i-used-to-...
June 9, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Happy Pride!
Read the full post for free here: sacredapostasy.substack.com/p/i-used-to-...
Read the full post for free here: sacredapostasy.substack.com/p/i-used-to-...
What if we defined ourselves, not by what we believe but by the kind of people we want to be? We have that ability.
“Identity would seem to be the garment with which one covers the nakedness of the self: in which case, it is best that the garment be loose, a little like the robes of the desert...
“Identity would seem to be the garment with which one covers the nakedness of the self: in which case, it is best that the garment be loose, a little like the robes of the desert...
May 1, 2025 at 3:18 AM
What if we defined ourselves, not by what we believe but by the kind of people we want to be? We have that ability.
“Identity would seem to be the garment with which one covers the nakedness of the self: in which case, it is best that the garment be loose, a little like the robes of the desert...
“Identity would seem to be the garment with which one covers the nakedness of the self: in which case, it is best that the garment be loose, a little like the robes of the desert...
“I think you could use a cup of coffee.”
Not something you want to hear from the VP of your business unit, especially not as a Mormon who believes that coffee is a devil's drink.
That was 10 years ago, luckily, since then, I’ve gotten much more practiced at recognizing and rejecting ridiculous ideas
Not something you want to hear from the VP of your business unit, especially not as a Mormon who believes that coffee is a devil's drink.
That was 10 years ago, luckily, since then, I’ve gotten much more practiced at recognizing and rejecting ridiculous ideas
April 28, 2025 at 2:11 AM
“I think you could use a cup of coffee.”
Not something you want to hear from the VP of your business unit, especially not as a Mormon who believes that coffee is a devil's drink.
That was 10 years ago, luckily, since then, I’ve gotten much more practiced at recognizing and rejecting ridiculous ideas
Not something you want to hear from the VP of your business unit, especially not as a Mormon who believes that coffee is a devil's drink.
That was 10 years ago, luckily, since then, I’ve gotten much more practiced at recognizing and rejecting ridiculous ideas
Which colorway/"level" do you choose?
1. Telestial
2. Terrestrial
3. Celestial
This piece was inspired by reflecting on my personal experience of gaining belief in my former religion, Mormonism.
1. Telestial
2. Terrestrial
3. Celestial
This piece was inspired by reflecting on my personal experience of gaining belief in my former religion, Mormonism.
April 20, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Which colorway/"level" do you choose?
1. Telestial
2. Terrestrial
3. Celestial
This piece was inspired by reflecting on my personal experience of gaining belief in my former religion, Mormonism.
1. Telestial
2. Terrestrial
3. Celestial
This piece was inspired by reflecting on my personal experience of gaining belief in my former religion, Mormonism.
For a long time, my mindset was that as long as our beliefs aren’t hurting others, go wild, get freaky, and believe whatever we want.
But it’s one thing to believe things that don’t harm others, another thing entirely to believe things that improve the world.
But it’s one thing to believe things that don’t harm others, another thing entirely to believe things that improve the world.
March 29, 2025 at 2:13 AM
For a long time, my mindset was that as long as our beliefs aren’t hurting others, go wild, get freaky, and believe whatever we want.
But it’s one thing to believe things that don’t harm others, another thing entirely to believe things that improve the world.
But it’s one thing to believe things that don’t harm others, another thing entirely to believe things that improve the world.
The other day I ate a rambutan while high. If there is a heaven, it’s got to have rambutans and the devil’s lettuce. This slice of heaven was made possible for me by skepticism. Let me explain.
I was taught as a child that blind faith is virtuous. My faith dictated that Cannabis was wrong.
I was taught as a child that blind faith is virtuous. My faith dictated that Cannabis was wrong.
March 28, 2025 at 1:58 AM
The other day I ate a rambutan while high. If there is a heaven, it’s got to have rambutans and the devil’s lettuce. This slice of heaven was made possible for me by skepticism. Let me explain.
I was taught as a child that blind faith is virtuous. My faith dictated that Cannabis was wrong.
I was taught as a child that blind faith is virtuous. My faith dictated that Cannabis was wrong.
An adult relative once told me that dinosaurs never lived on Earth.
He was 100% serious. He claimed that meteorites had brought dinosaur fossils to Earth and embedded them in Earth’s crust.
He was 100% serious. He claimed that meteorites had brought dinosaur fossils to Earth and embedded them in Earth’s crust.
March 27, 2025 at 1:49 AM
An adult relative once told me that dinosaurs never lived on Earth.
He was 100% serious. He claimed that meteorites had brought dinosaur fossils to Earth and embedded them in Earth’s crust.
He was 100% serious. He claimed that meteorites had brought dinosaur fossils to Earth and embedded them in Earth’s crust.
What drives ordinary people to commit extraordinary evil?
It’s foolish beliefs.
Here’s a radical idea: Beliefs are the root of all evil. Before you roll your eyes hear me out.
I don’t mean all beliefs; rather, belief is the key ingredient.
It’s foolish beliefs.
Here’s a radical idea: Beliefs are the root of all evil. Before you roll your eyes hear me out.
I don’t mean all beliefs; rather, belief is the key ingredient.
March 26, 2025 at 1:24 AM
What drives ordinary people to commit extraordinary evil?
It’s foolish beliefs.
Here’s a radical idea: Beliefs are the root of all evil. Before you roll your eyes hear me out.
I don’t mean all beliefs; rather, belief is the key ingredient.
It’s foolish beliefs.
Here’s a radical idea: Beliefs are the root of all evil. Before you roll your eyes hear me out.
I don’t mean all beliefs; rather, belief is the key ingredient.
I identify as a rock.
Kick me.
Pick me up, look me over, rub me off.
Then throw me.
Skip me
Across the water
Splashing
Spinning
Sinking
To the bottom of the Sea
Let me rest
Where only the currents reach
I don’t need much more
I’m a rock.
Kick me.
Pick me up, look me over, rub me off.
Then throw me.
Skip me
Across the water
Splashing
Spinning
Sinking
To the bottom of the Sea
Let me rest
Where only the currents reach
I don’t need much more
I’m a rock.
March 25, 2025 at 2:00 AM
I identify as a rock.
Kick me.
Pick me up, look me over, rub me off.
Then throw me.
Skip me
Across the water
Splashing
Spinning
Sinking
To the bottom of the Sea
Let me rest
Where only the currents reach
I don’t need much more
I’m a rock.
Kick me.
Pick me up, look me over, rub me off.
Then throw me.
Skip me
Across the water
Splashing
Spinning
Sinking
To the bottom of the Sea
Let me rest
Where only the currents reach
I don’t need much more
I’m a rock.
When I attempted to gain a “testimony” of my former religion, I fell victim to confirmation bias, motivated reasoning, and illusory truth effect. I disregarded doubts about receiving an “answer” from God because of my previously held beliefs.
March 24, 2025 at 2:00 AM
When I attempted to gain a “testimony” of my former religion, I fell victim to confirmation bias, motivated reasoning, and illusory truth effect. I disregarded doubts about receiving an “answer” from God because of my previously held beliefs.
I climbed into my bunk bed, determined not to fall asleep until I had an answer.
The lights were out, I got on my knees. My bunkmates were either asleep or doing the same thing as me. I began my silent plea.
“Dear Heavenly Father, I thank thee…”
The lights were out, I got on my knees. My bunkmates were either asleep or doing the same thing as me. I began my silent plea.
“Dear Heavenly Father, I thank thee…”
March 23, 2025 at 2:30 AM
I climbed into my bunk bed, determined not to fall asleep until I had an answer.
The lights were out, I got on my knees. My bunkmates were either asleep or doing the same thing as me. I began my silent plea.
“Dear Heavenly Father, I thank thee…”
The lights were out, I got on my knees. My bunkmates were either asleep or doing the same thing as me. I began my silent plea.
“Dear Heavenly Father, I thank thee…”
Good Beliefs, Good Actions - The 7th and final piece of "Belief is Death, But It Doesn't Have to Be"
February 22, 2025 at 4:00 AM
Good Beliefs, Good Actions - The 7th and final piece of "Belief is Death, But It Doesn't Have to Be"
Strong Opinions Loosely Held - Poster 6 from "Belief is Death, But It Doesn't Have to Be"
February 20, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Strong Opinions Loosely Held - Poster 6 from "Belief is Death, But It Doesn't Have to Be"
So What Gives? - Poster 5 from "Belief is Death, But It Doesn't Have to Be."
An adult relative once told me that dinosaurs never lived on Earth.
Most of us have come across people who has core beliefs that make no sense given our scientific understanding of the world. So what gives?
An adult relative once told me that dinosaurs never lived on Earth.
Most of us have come across people who has core beliefs that make no sense given our scientific understanding of the world. So what gives?
February 20, 2025 at 3:00 AM
So What Gives? - Poster 5 from "Belief is Death, But It Doesn't Have to Be."
An adult relative once told me that dinosaurs never lived on Earth.
Most of us have come across people who has core beliefs that make no sense given our scientific understanding of the world. So what gives?
An adult relative once told me that dinosaurs never lived on Earth.
Most of us have come across people who has core beliefs that make no sense given our scientific understanding of the world. So what gives?
The Root of All Evil - the 4th piece from "Belief is Death, But it Doesn't Have To Be"
"We’re great at writing off evil as something outside ourselves, a metaphysical force, “bad spirits,” or “Satan.”
"We’re great at writing off evil as something outside ourselves, a metaphysical force, “bad spirits,” or “Satan.”
February 19, 2025 at 2:00 AM
The Root of All Evil - the 4th piece from "Belief is Death, But it Doesn't Have To Be"
"We’re great at writing off evil as something outside ourselves, a metaphysical force, “bad spirits,” or “Satan.”
"We’re great at writing off evil as something outside ourselves, a metaphysical force, “bad spirits,” or “Satan.”
We Have That Ability - the third piece from "Belief is Death, But It Doesn't Have to Be
"What if we defined ourselves, not by what we believe but by the kind of people we want to be? We have that ability. "
"What if we defined ourselves, not by what we believe but by the kind of people we want to be? We have that ability. "
February 17, 2025 at 5:02 PM
We Have That Ability - the third piece from "Belief is Death, But It Doesn't Have to Be
"What if we defined ourselves, not by what we believe but by the kind of people we want to be? We have that ability. "
"What if we defined ourselves, not by what we believe but by the kind of people we want to be? We have that ability. "
You Gotta Want To - poster #2 from "Belief is Death, But It Doesn't Have to Be"
"Identifying and filtering out bullshit is a mental muscle... Anyone can do it, but you gotta want to."
"Identifying and filtering out bullshit is a mental muscle... Anyone can do it, but you gotta want to."
February 17, 2025 at 2:00 AM
You Gotta Want To - poster #2 from "Belief is Death, But It Doesn't Have to Be"
"Identifying and filtering out bullshit is a mental muscle... Anyone can do it, but you gotta want to."
"Identifying and filtering out bullshit is a mental muscle... Anyone can do it, but you gotta want to."
BELIEF IS DEATH - but it doesn't have to be
The peak of naive faith, the crash of disillusioned nihilism, and the measured climb of rationality.
7 essays and graphic posters examine how people form, question, and choose their beliefs, drawing from author Joan Merlo’s experiences as a cult member
The peak of naive faith, the crash of disillusioned nihilism, and the measured climb of rationality.
7 essays and graphic posters examine how people form, question, and choose their beliefs, drawing from author Joan Merlo’s experiences as a cult member
February 16, 2025 at 12:53 AM
BELIEF IS DEATH - but it doesn't have to be
The peak of naive faith, the crash of disillusioned nihilism, and the measured climb of rationality.
7 essays and graphic posters examine how people form, question, and choose their beliefs, drawing from author Joan Merlo’s experiences as a cult member
The peak of naive faith, the crash of disillusioned nihilism, and the measured climb of rationality.
7 essays and graphic posters examine how people form, question, and choose their beliefs, drawing from author Joan Merlo’s experiences as a cult member
Ever wonder what it's like to leave a cult?
How I Escaped a Cult and Found Myself
My world crumbled, I had to figure out how to rebuild
medium.com
March 4, 2024 at 11:54 PM
Ever wonder what it's like to leave a cult?
“Mood is a product of your rate of progress towards your current goals.”
Source: open.spotify.com/episode/2uit...
Source: open.spotify.com/episode/2uit...
#179 – Randy Nesse on why evolution left us so vulnerable to depression and anxiety
Listen to this episode from 80,000 Hours Podcast on Spotify. Mental health problems like depression and anxiety affect enormous numbers of people and severely interfere with their lives. By contrast, ...
open.spotify.com
February 27, 2024 at 4:14 AM
“Mood is a product of your rate of progress towards your current goals.”
Source: open.spotify.com/episode/2uit...
Source: open.spotify.com/episode/2uit...
