Do religions promote insanity?

[Dee Dee Ramone]

[quote='Dee Dee Ramone' pid='372991' dateline='1355194959']
Not having an imaginary friend who knows everything and it directing you, not abstaining from sex and living as a Priest or Nun, not spending countless hours on their knees praying to their imaginary friend, not believing that there will be a never-ending paradise after they die...

Ok that last one is a little depressing...

It might be, but it is indeed also a little depressing knowing the mighty webcam is permantly seeing you watching porn, lie, shit, piss, eat boogies....whatever people do alone. I know for sure I had to waste my life on earth by confessing almost constantly...by the terms of the bible ofcourse

[CapnAwesome]

I think maybe there is a kind of group insanity in religion that just doesn't exist with an otherwise mentally healthy individual. Take preachers who can make whole groups of people fall down 'by the word of the lord.' You couldn't do it with an audience of one, but when people are in a pack they do ridiculous things because they think it's what's expected of them. We seem to get stupider the larger of a group we are in, and religion is the best example of that.

[Jackalope]

not believing that there will be a never-ending paradise after they die...

Ok that last one is a little depressing...

Perhaps - but it does encourage you to greatly value the time you have.

[Dee Dee Ramone]

not believing that there will be a never-ending paradise after they die...

Ok that last one is a little depressing...

Perhaps - but it does encourage you to greatly value the time you have.

Carpe diem!

---

I think maybe there is a kind of group insanity in religion that just doesn't exist with an otherwise mentally healthy individual. Take preachers who can make whole groups of people fall down 'by the word of the lord.' You couldn't do it with an audience of one, but when people are in a pack they do ridiculous things because they think it's what's expected of them. We seem to get stupider the larger of a group we are in, and religion is the best example of that.

I used to think in the same way, I thought it was a sort of mass-psychosis. But isn't it inherent to human nature to conform to what you're raised with?

[median]

Religion is for the intellectually lazy, the gullible, or the emotionally vulnerable. They need to read this book!

What I find intriguing is the interplay between these attributes. I have some empathetic understanding of those that are gullible and/or emotionally vulnerable. In my experience conversations with theists of this sort can be fruitful; not for conversion, but for understanding. Gullibility alone can be overcome simply through conversation and explanation. Emotional vulnerability takes more effort to overcome in that unravelling the basis for the emotional attachment must be understood and addressed first, but it can be done. I have a lot of tolerance in most cases like these.

I quickly lose patience with most that are intellectually lazy. If intellectual laziness is combined with gullibility and/or emotional vulnerability, there's no hope. I have an acquaintence that recently told me that he's sticking with god because he doesn't want to take the time to consider evolution, cosmology, non-religios ideas of ethics, etc. I would usually dismiss meaningful conversation with people like this; however, when we meet he constantly probes me on topics he has already said he doesn't understand and doesn't care to. I think he actually does care, but is overcoming some embarassment to engage. I'll have to see is he can overcome.

Thanks for sharing this story. When I look inside of myself, and dig into my past experiences, feelings, emotions, desires, and motivations (in my "born again" days) I can see a pattern of fear. It was near paralyzing fear - one that would not subside. I thought, "Where did we come from? It must have been a God? Who else could have done it? The bible makes so much sense! It rings so true with my heart! It has so much wisdom! I know it's the answer." The problem was, I was ignoring all of the counter evidence and I was literally AFRAID to read books that argued against my beliefs/faith (i.e. - books like Losing Faith in Faith - Dan Barker).

Well, that fear was actualized. However, being a musician I now see where that fear went, and it actually turned into confidence. It was like fear of being on stage or in front of people. It's so terrifying, but once you step out and do it, the fear passes and you are calm, motivated, and confident. Time to rock! Christianity is fear based (fear of dying, fear of the unknown, fear of loneliness, fear of loss, etc), and once you let go of that fear you realize there is nothing to be afraid of (aka - no man behind the curtain) except fear itself.

[Minimalist]

I don't see why mormons should be considered any crazier than the other religious nutcases.

Might have something to do with believing a 1820's con artist?

[RichardP]

Well, that fear was actualized. However, being a musician I now see where that fear went, and it actually turned into confidence. It was like fear of being on stage or in front of people. It's so terrifying, but once you step out and do it, the fear passes and you are calm, motivated, and confident. Time to rock! Christianity is fear based (fear of dying, fear of the unknown, fear of loneliness, fear of loss, etc), and once you let go of that fear you realize there is nothing to be afraid of (aka - no man behind the curtain) except fear itself.

I think that you have a very good point. And I think that the Christians fear that the atheists might somehow jeopardize things for them.

I think that they have a fear of us that we don't have of them. At least not in the same way.

[Voltron]

I don't see why mormons should be considered any crazier than the other religious nutcases.

Might have something to do with believing a 1820's con artist?

What's the year got to do with it?

[Cato]

Might have something to do with believing a 1820's con artist?

What's the year got to do with it?

Google 'burnt over district'.

[Voltron]

What's the year got to do with it?

Google 'burnt over district'.

I suppose to Christians old bullshit trumps new bullshit. I guess I just thought it strange that Richard stated religion seemed reasonable until running into some mormons. Cause we all know how they're the real crazies!! But if meeting up with them did the trick for him, good on it.