Spooky - Off-topic, so sorry 'bout that, but I wanted to say that "Religious Views: Chaotic Neutral" = hilarious!!
Godschild - The same could be said of any message, that a person is "more likely to believe" if they are already receptive to the idea. Half of the marketing companies (and their campaigns) on the planet are centered around the idea of making humans psychologically more receptive to what you're selling, be it products or politics.
It has been my experience that, unless a person is raised in a religious environment before their brains develop enough to resist (as much as any human can) indoctrination, even if that religion is not the one they wind up converting to as an adult, they tend to recoil in horror what most religions teach. For those of us who have been through the process of breaking away from childhood indoctrination, the difference between the Believer's and Skeptic's mindset is as clear as black-and-white. As others have responded, I don't know any examples of people becoming Christians (or other religions of a "Revealed Truth" nature) once they have learned what Sagan called the "baloney detector kit" way of thinking. There are those who claim to be ex-atheists, usually for the purpose of selling books/CDs/DVDs to Believers, but if you look more closely at their claims, they are usually just "lapsed" Believers who reverted to their old indoctrination after a period of "justdontgiveafuckism".
Godschild - The same could be said of any message, that a person is "more likely to believe" if they are already receptive to the idea. Half of the marketing companies (and their campaigns) on the planet are centered around the idea of making humans psychologically more receptive to what you're selling, be it products or politics.
It has been my experience that, unless a person is raised in a religious environment before their brains develop enough to resist (as much as any human can) indoctrination, even if that religion is not the one they wind up converting to as an adult, they tend to recoil in horror what most religions teach. For those of us who have been through the process of breaking away from childhood indoctrination, the difference between the Believer's and Skeptic's mindset is as clear as black-and-white. As others have responded, I don't know any examples of people becoming Christians (or other religions of a "Revealed Truth" nature) once they have learned what Sagan called the "baloney detector kit" way of thinking. There are those who claim to be ex-atheists, usually for the purpose of selling books/CDs/DVDs to Believers, but if you look more closely at their claims, they are usually just "lapsed" Believers who reverted to their old indoctrination after a period of "justdontgiveafuckism".
A Christian told me: if you were saved you cant lose your salvation. you're sealed with the Holy Ghost
I replied: Can I refuse? Because I find the entire concept of vicarious blood sacrifice atonement to be morally abhorrent, the concept of holding flawed creatures permanently accountable for social misbehaviors and thought crimes to be morally abhorrent, and the concept of calling something "free" when it comes with the strings of subjugation and obedience perhaps the most morally abhorrent of all... and that's without even going into the history of justifying genocide, slavery, rape, misogyny, religious intolerance, and suppression of free speech which has been attributed by your own scriptures to your deity. I want a refund. I would burn happily rather than serve the monster you profess to love.
I replied: Can I refuse? Because I find the entire concept of vicarious blood sacrifice atonement to be morally abhorrent, the concept of holding flawed creatures permanently accountable for social misbehaviors and thought crimes to be morally abhorrent, and the concept of calling something "free" when it comes with the strings of subjugation and obedience perhaps the most morally abhorrent of all... and that's without even going into the history of justifying genocide, slavery, rape, misogyny, religious intolerance, and suppression of free speech which has been attributed by your own scriptures to your deity. I want a refund. I would burn happily rather than serve the monster you profess to love.
