Autistic people may have a lower tolerance for cognitive dissonance. When faced with contradictions in rigid belief systems, the typical "release valves" (like faith) are often ineffective. This builds pressure until an event causes a rapid, total deconversion.

Autistic individuals are often socially marginalized, making them prime targets for cults that offer a sense of belonging. Key autistic traits like black-and-white thinking and rigidity mirror cult dynamics. This, combined with fewer social ties, makes them easier to isolate.

Awe is a uniquely human emotion derived from our metacognitive ability to detach consciousness from the immediate here and now. By mentally zooming out in time or space—reminiscing about the past or imagining the future—we can adopt a vast perspective that generates the feeling of awe.

Autistic individuals often experience a "high church drift," moving from emotional, evangelical traditions to more formulaic, liturgical ones like Anglicanism. They find structured, non-emotional participation more accessible than concepts like a "personal relationship with Jesus," which 85% in one dataset reported not having.

A common misconception of autism is a blissful unawareness of social impact. The reality is often a state of constant worry about upsetting others, combined with an inability to accurately read social cues, leading to missteps like apologizing unnecessarily or not realizing an offense.

Awe is not just appreciating beauty; it's a cognitive process defined by encountering vast mysteries that require a "need for accommodation." This means you must rearrange your existing knowledge structures and mental models to make sense of the new, incomprehensible experience.

Contrary to the belief that awe is an infrequent, grand event, daily diary research across multiple countries reveals people experience it two to three times per week. Awe can be found in common moments, like observing a leaf falling or appreciating a colleague's intelligence, making it highly accessible.

Contrary to popular belief, awe is not always a positive emotion. It can be deeply uncomfortable because it introduces profound uncertainty and destabilizes our understanding of the world. Experiences like a powerful storm can feel both awe-inspiring and threatening simultaneously.

Contrary to the idea of 'losing yourself,' awe is an embodied experience that connects your individual self to a vast system, like nature, history, or a collective. This quiets the self-focused Default Mode Network, making you feel small but part of something immense and significant.