Does anybody else feel sorry for religious people?

[robvalue]

I would say I pity them. I can't imagine how mentally damaging it must be to try and convince yourself, let alone anyone else, of all the ridiculous contradictory utter nonsense. And to have to overrule your own conscience and your own logic every time you discuss it. That must be miserable. But maybe a certain masochistic or naturally dishonest personality type would enjoy such tribulations.

I have to stand back and say, this is a grown adult believing in fairy stories. And not even convincing ones, the most poorly told, unbelievable, inconsistent, boring, violent and ridiculous stories I've ever heard. I do however feel immensely sorry for any child being forced to believe this crap. They are reliant on their parents for education and protection and they are being utterly failed.

[thesummerqueen]

Only when it's clear that their religion is a crutch of some sort, and then no worse than I'd feel bad for an atheist with a drug addiction.

[robvalue]

It sucks when you're dealing with someone you clearly know should be able to realize the hypocrisy but they bullshit through it anyway. I don't feel sorry for that person. I feel sorry for people who really can't think their way out of what they've been indoctrinated into.

[Ryantology]

I guess, maybe some. Kids, certainly. They are being abused and that abuse will mark them for the rest of their lives. They are taught to question their beliefs only within acceptable boundaries, and that those who breach those boundaries become tools of Satan. That's why you have grown adults coming here insisting that we don't believe in any gods because we hate their specific god. A lifetime of brainwashing can put you to where that might actually make sense in your head.

[Nope]

I went to church on sunday, and I felt sorry for everybody there, because all I could think of was that they were brainwashed, and were giving their money away for nothing, and that the elders wasted their entire life, and the middle aged people are wasting their life, and they're oppressing themselves, etc. I just feel so sorry for these people.

Fortunately, my girlfriend, and the pastor knows I'm an atheist, but that's it. Nobody else at church knows.

Does anybody else feel sorry for religious people?

I do and it is one reason why, outside of this forum, I am pretty gentle when it comes to discussing religion with religious people. Many people are religious because they need an emotional crutch to get through life. My best friend suffered some extreme abuse at the hands of her father. She spent a big part of her life believing that she was worthless. Faith helped her to believe that someone loved her and that she had worth as a person. Hopefully, one day she will move past that place in her life but I can understand why religion would appeal to her.

There are other people, though, who are religious because they are arrogant pricks and religion provides them with a way to feel superior to someone. I have no pity for them.

[Minimalist]

No. Fuck 'em.

I escaped. They could too if they wanted to.

[Norman Humann]

Agreed.

I've been indoctrinated since pre-school. If you have enough brains you'll see it for the bullshit it is.

[Strider]

I don't feel sorry for them. The truth isn't hard to find; they simply refuse to acknowledge it for various reasons. I do, however, feel sorry for the children. They aren't able to fully reason yet, and they accept what their parents and elders say without question mostly. I know that they will either make some difficult decisions after their indoctrination or they will continue the shared delusion and allow an organization and dogma to lend hollow meaning to their lives rather than it coming from within.

[Fendon]

No, to be honest. I mentioned in another thread that I feel sorry for zealots because they strike me as particularly desperate. In reality, there is very little in church life to feel sorry for. Churches have an amazing sense of community, friendship and support. Most attend out of genuine belief and passion for Christ. I have always been in awe of church-goers. Sure, religion has a lot of damage that can be inflicted on society, but if I was to stand in a church right now and watch a sermon, I'd be inspired to find that sort of accomplishment, passion and satisfaction in my on life.

It's easy to look at church-goers and almost condescend, but actually there is so much that we, as people can learn from church. We don't have to buy into it, but it's a powerful experience nonetheless.

The problem with religion is not that people believe in a God and have "wasted their life" - from their perspective, they haven't wasted their life. The problem with religion is its influence on politics, its invasion into my personal life and its obvious indoctrination of kids.

[AFTT47]

Some people are meant to be sheep. I don't feel sorry for those. They're happy in church and it suits them. I do feel sorry the people who are only there because they were indoctrinated when they were young.