(October 11, 2013 at 7:42 pm)Chas Wrote:(October 11, 2013 at 10:52 am)apophenia Wrote: Obvious, perhaps, but not necessarily correct.
No, the correct answer is "deluded".
de·lu·sion
diˈlo͞oZHən/
noun
1. an idiosyncratic belief or impression that is firmly maintained despite being contradicted by what is generally accepted as reality or rational argument, typically a symptom of mental disorder.
While I agree with the word - deluded - I also would like to add the word "indoctrinated" - or maybe also "brainwashed" to it - and certainly taught.
Most current theists were born into it - were taught it from almost their first breath - and were taught it by the ones they trust the most - their parents. And their parents probably used religion as the "threat" to keep them in line as well.
AS is normal - what they were taught was a certain subset of knowledge about religion - ignoring what does not appear appropriate. Once you are taught that humans are SPECIAL creatures and have a special place to be rewarded to go to when you die if you are good - it is hard to overcome that - especially when most parents of the 20th century generation were generally NOT questionable on the subject.
However - it remains that EDUCATION is what is doing religion in. THere was a time when you accepted that what you were taught was completely true - period. However - with education comes questions. WHy is it that religion cannot answer them - as they are basic to the belief. After all - xtianity has been around for almost 2000 years - so by now they should have LOTS of verifiable proof of the existence of their god. WHat - they don't have any!!!!!!