Parasitic Shortcuts
I
n the film Inception, Dom Cobb warns, “What is the most resilient parasite?… An idea. Once an idea has taken hold of the brain, it’s almost impossible to eradicate.” The film explores how hidden thoughts shape reality, often without people realizing it. This premise mirrors a real-world truth: Much of our thinking is shaped by unconscious biases—deep-seated mental shortcuts that influence our choices without our awareness. Pragya Agarwal explores these hidden forces in her book Sway[1], arguing that biases stem from evolutionary survival mechanisms. But this explanation raises questions: If biases lead to flawed thinking, why would evolution favor them? Could they instead point to a deeper reality—not just cognitive habits, but a moral and spiritual brokenness inherent in human nature? In this article, I will examine Agarwl’s work, exploring its insights while challenging its evolutionary assumptions from a theological perspective. I will consider: Are biases just evolutionary survival mechanisms, or do they reveal something more profound—the universal struggle with human fallenness and the need for redemption?
Sway Perspective on Bias
There is much discussion about the reality and disadvantages of human bias. Works like Being Wrong[2], Thinking, Fast and Slow[3], and Why We Are Wrong About Nearly Everything[4] all agree that biases distort our thinking. In her book Sway, Pragra Agarwal concludes that biases are unconscious, shaped by evolution, and affect all areas of life. She identifies biases as adaptive mechanisms, a behavior aiding survival from evolutionary history.[5] She argues that biases are not flaws but rather “features that contribute to fitness in some way.”[6] While this perspective addresses the earlier question- that if biases lead to errors, why would evolution favor them- it does not account for the apparent moral tension they create today. If our prejudices are evolved survival instincts that provide us an advantage, can they be considered morally wrong? Is morality, and the standards of good and evil, right and wrong, anything more than a social contract?
A Theological Perspective on Bias
Agarwal argues that unconscious bias was an evolutionary survival mechanism necessary in the past but continues without justification. Throughout the book, she contends that when these biases manifest as prejudice and discrimination, they are inherently wrong. This assumption of morality aligns more closely with the Christian doctrine of sin. Rather than being a product of an evolutionary process, biases can be more readily understood as a byproduct of humanity’s rejection of God and His design for human flourishing. Consider the following examples:
Confirmation bias and resistance to truth.
Speaking of the reality of confirmation bias, Jesus teaches:
And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.[7]
This passage illustrates confirmation bias in people responding to truth based on their preexisting desires and moral inclinations. Confirmation bias is the tendency to favor information that supports one’s beliefs while rejecting or avoiding information that challenges them. Here, Jesus explains that people reject the light (truth) not because it is unclear or unconvincing, but because they love the darkness—they have a vested interest in maintaining their current way of life. Their attachment to sin causes them to avoid or resist the light, much like confirmation bias leads individuals to reject information threatening their worldview.
Those who do evil “do not come to the light, lest their works should be exposed.” They avoid the truth to protect their current way of thinking and acting, just as people with confirmation bias avoid evidence that contradicts their views. The passage states that people love darkness rather than light. Similarly, confirmation bias is often driven by emotional attachment to certain beliefs rather than a neutral evaluation of evidence. The verse says that those who do evil hate the light. This mirrors how people experiencing confirmation bias can become hostile toward perspectives that challenge their beliefs.
In short, John 3:19-20 suggests that the rejection of truth is not always intellectual but often moral, psychological, and emotional.
In-group bias cultivates prejudice, discrimination, and oppression.
In-group bias is the tendency to favor one’s group over others, often resulting in exclusion, prejudice, and superiority. Agarwal suggests that this bias was an evolutionary mechanism that protected against disease or potential threats.[8] Paul illustrates that the Gospel ultimately overcomes such a bias.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.[9]
In his letter to the Galatian church, Paul clearly shows that the sin of such bias leads to human division and pride. Paul’s statement in this passage pushes back against the divisions that naturally arise from such biases. Divisions such as ethnic, social, and gender inequality are not God’s desire nor design but the result of brokenness, a byproduct of our rejection of God. Paul rebukes this broken way of living, emphasizing that all are equal in Christ.
Conclusion
Sway offers insights into biases but, ironically, is limited by a secular, evolutionary bias. This restricts Agarwal’s ability to consider alternative viewpoints on the origins of such biases, causing her to miss a deeper problem. Bias, whether conscious or unconscious, reflects our brokenness. The only hope for a remedy lies in the transformative power of the Gospel, which can change a heart of stone into a heart of flesh. This change requires more than a heightened awareness of our biases; it necessitates completely transforming our nature.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
[1] Pragya Agarwal, Sway: Unraveling Unconscious Bias, (London: Bloomsbury Sigma, 2020).
[2] Kathryn Schulz, Being Wrong: Adventures in the Margin of Error, (New York: HarperCollins, 2010).
[3] Kahneman, Daniel, Thinking, Fast and Slow, (Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Kindle Edition, 2011).
[4] Bobby Duffy, Why We Are Wrong About Nearly Everything: A Theory of Human Misunderstanding, (New York, NY: Basic Books, 2019).
[5] Pragya Agarwal, Sway, 44.
[6] Ibid., 44.
[7] John 3:19-20.
[8] Pragya Agarwal, Sway, 152.
[9] Galatians 3:28.
About the Author
Chad Warren
A husband, father, pastor, teacher, and student seeking to help others flourish.12 responses to “Parasitic Shortcuts”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Hi Chad,
Thank you for your post.
If you were to give a 15-minute presentation on Agarwal’s book Sway: Unravelling Unconscious Bias, what topic/s would you select and why?
Shela, I would take a similar approach to my article. I would look at the reality and origin of unconscious bias. I would consider Agarwal’s approach and then a Biblical approach. I would highlight these distinctions by looking at confirmation bias and in-group bias.
Chad,
I really appreciate your post and relating bias to our fallen state. I love your theological mindset. The first night in my cultural and human diversity class I start out talking about how all humans are equal, created in the image and likeness of God, I then talk about the fall and the grouping of people into tribes and the formation of biases, favoring those in our tribe and suspicious of those outside the tribe. I discuss biases found in the Scripture but then I talk about Jesus’ response to those who are different, woman at the well, healing non-Jewish people and then proceed to Peter’s vision, and the verse you mention from Paul. I then play MLK jr.’s famous quote about the 11 o’clock hour on a Sunday morning being the most segregated hour in America. I then ask how/why is that the case if we as a church are to emulate Jesus.
As a pastor, what do you see that prevents people from experiencing a complete transformation of their nature? How are biases continuing toward a perception of evolutionary self-preservation?
Jeff, many people miss out on transformation because they don’t actively cultivate things Peter speaks of: virtue, self-control, and love (2 Peter 1:3-9). When we don’t grow in these areas, our faith becomes shallow, and we forget the radical forgiveness and grace God has given us. Practices like prayer, Bible study, and serving others help us keep our focus on God’s mercy and avoid becoming spiritually shortsighted. Only then can we experience the complete transformation He offers.
Thanks for the theological perspective, Chad. I have in-group bias very strongly in churches. What are ways we can combat these biases this in the Body of Christ?
Kari, you’re not alone—it’s something we all wrestle with. One way to combat in-group bias in the church is by intentionally practicing hospitality and empathy and listening to those different from us. When we center ourselves on Christ and remember that everyone is equally loved and gifted, it helps break down the walls that bias builds. Another thing that has helped me over the years has been to inventory my beliefs into four categories: Convictions (non-negotiables), persuasions (things I am firmly convinced of but could be wrong), opinions (stuff I believe but could easily by wrong about), and questions (things I am not comfortable holding with any amount of certainty).
Chad,
I really appreciate the theological approach and challenge to Agarwal’s book. I too, felt like it ultimately fell flat, only laying out the issues but not having a way to address them. If this is more of an original sin issues and part of the problem of the Fall, how might we Christians in our churches recognize the biases we might have and work through them or overcome them?
Adam, recognizing bias starts with humility—letting the Holy Spirit search our hearts and show us where we’re not seeing others clearly. From there, we grow by listening well, asking honest questions, and staying rooted in Scripture’s call to love without partiality. Transformation happens when we let grace reshape not just our actions but also our assumptions.
Hi Chad, I agree that the author missed an opportunity by not delving into how faith and how sinfulness play into bias. Your post got me thinking. The concept that all bias is sinful escaped me growing up. My mom used to say that biases were good but prejudice was bad. I think she meant it as my kid is the best at… whatever was happening. Something many parents do. Yet, even in that, the sinful pride mindset is my child is better than whoever, could be more about the parent than the child. Maybe an alternative is joy in the pleasure a child gets from doing those things they enjoy and excel in. The parents experiencing joy for their child without putting other children down. I am curious if you think this concept is too far fetched or even possible to consider in today’s world?
Hi Chad, the word bias has a negative connotation because it usually reflects a shortcut that our brain takes that ends up being wrong. But I’m curious if bias is inherently a bad thing, or is it just when we are wrong that it’s negative? One could say that we also have a bias to believe that dark skies mean rain is coming, but sometimes our mental models are wrong. I would say that when we use these shortcuts to define an individual or group that we can get into trouble. What are your thoughts on this?
Hi Chad,
The couple of questions I had have already been addressed. I enjoyed your post and am glad you brought theological insight. Well done. Thank you!
Hi, Chad, thank you for your post. I do appreciate your biblical perspective on bias, thank you. Last week, I did share with one of my pastor friends about how we could collaborate for my project (NPO) with regards to leadership training. And the response I get was something like when it involves church, they already have pastors doing that, leadership training. It sounds more like what your share, ‘in-group bias.’ I am not a pastor, but I would like to work in collaboration with the church. Do you think this is a good idea? Thanks again.