How Evangelists Sound to Atheists

[robvalue]

This is the problem. Put bluntly, most religious people sound crazy to me. Now I don't think they actually are crazy, but their words mimic those of a crazy person.

Every religious story sounds insane, and the idea that an adult actually believes it is true makes them sound nuts to me. I don't bring this up constantly here to theists, even when I'm thinking it, because it's not helpful for productive conversation. But maybe hearing it candidly like this every so often will be something of a wake up call. It's exactly like I'm talking to an adult who still believes in Santa. I don't think religious people realize just how apt that analogy is. In fact, believing in Santa is a lot less ridiculous than religion because it is less removed from the reality we observe.

It's a socially acceptable delusion. Psychological programming passed on in a vicious cycle of irrational thinking. As I posted recently, I do have sympathy for what it's like to be indoctrinated. I have some similar experiences outside of religion which let me know it's real, it's not just excuses to believe dumb stories. It is fucking powerful.

People ultimately have to decide if they want their beliefs to be rational, or if they want them to be comfortable. Until they make a conscious decision for the former, they will be a slave to religion, and pass on the poison to their children. We have a few special theists who don't indoctrinate, but on the whole, even the nice ones still do it. It's sickening to me, and I'm undecided as to whether the parent subconsciously knows the child isn't going to believe their story once it can think properly so they have to cram it in while they are vulnerable.

Anyhow. If a theist makes a firm decision that they want their beliefs to be rational, we are here for them. Without trying to sound too arrogant, we "know" that their beliefs are wrong and that its just a matter of guiding them to that. (I don't ever speak to absolute certainty, but we're talking about reality here.) If they thoroughly rationally evaluate their own beliefs, while accepting whatever critical thinking help they may be missing, they will see through it and escape. But they have to make that decision themselves to really want to challenge it. Not to discard it, but to challenge it. It just so happens that discarding it is what will happen if the process is done right.

Religion provides a lot of reasons to be wary of doing this, so much so that some people simply never even try. Deep down, some people must be scared that if they do look at their beliefs properly, they may lose them, and they assume they will be worse off for it. I couldn't disagree more. In the vast majority of cases, people are happier and feel an amazing freedom. But I know that can sound like empty words to someone caught up completely in the delusion.