Hi guys
I'm new here, in fact, although I've been an atheist for most of the last 50 years, I have only just now reached out in any way to fellow non-believers...didn't see the point, to be honest. I've recently joined a couple of forums though, and have been fascinated to learn others feel the same way I do about some things. I'd never really thought about it.
One of the points I have made over the years when debating with a religious person is this.
If I took a child, literally from birth, and began indoctrinating him in a particular system, forced him to attend lectures, chant and sing about the system weekly, join with other children of the system to discuss the system, pledge a percentage of his income to the system, and count on the system to solve all of his problems for him- although when it didn't he was to believe that it was either through some fault of his own or simply for reasons "beyond his understanding", and further, if I threatened this child with being burned by fire forever if he did not comply with the rules of the system...well, they'd put me in jail, and take the child away.
Interesting. Just change "System" to "Religion" and most folks find it not only acceptable, but mandatory.
I find it amazing that we have survived as a species. This is plain and simple brainwashing, on a scale the CIA can only dream about. The priests and preachers have had millennia to hone their techniques to a razor edge. It's not surprising that average Joe doesn't stand a chance. Between guilt and fear and peer pressure...he's hosed.
I'm new here, in fact, although I've been an atheist for most of the last 50 years, I have only just now reached out in any way to fellow non-believers...didn't see the point, to be honest. I've recently joined a couple of forums though, and have been fascinated to learn others feel the same way I do about some things. I'd never really thought about it.
One of the points I have made over the years when debating with a religious person is this.
If I took a child, literally from birth, and began indoctrinating him in a particular system, forced him to attend lectures, chant and sing about the system weekly, join with other children of the system to discuss the system, pledge a percentage of his income to the system, and count on the system to solve all of his problems for him- although when it didn't he was to believe that it was either through some fault of his own or simply for reasons "beyond his understanding", and further, if I threatened this child with being burned by fire forever if he did not comply with the rules of the system...well, they'd put me in jail, and take the child away.
Interesting. Just change "System" to "Religion" and most folks find it not only acceptable, but mandatory.
I find it amazing that we have survived as a species. This is plain and simple brainwashing, on a scale the CIA can only dream about. The priests and preachers have had millennia to hone their techniques to a razor edge. It's not surprising that average Joe doesn't stand a chance. Between guilt and fear and peer pressure...he's hosed.
Things are a lot more like they used to be, than they are now.
