(December 30, 2014 at 5:18 pm)alpha male Wrote: Yep. You noted Christianity in particular, but many atheists believe that most religions are evil. If most religions are evil, and most people have belonged to a religion, that means people are generally evil.I thought so but I wanted to ask in case I misinterpreted what you were implying.
To his credit, Brian37 is arguing a similar point in another thread.
True, I did note Christianity in particular. The kind of self-loathing and guilt associated with Christianity is quite unique though. I don't believe that religion is evil (though ignorant isn't too far off the mark) so I reject the notion that people are generally evil. Evil is an abstract concept anyway, the rough idea of which is interpreted, described, and dealt with in various ways from culture to culture and religion to religion. The characteristics of a person have to do with genetics, upbringing, economic status, nationality, ethnicity, and other factors, some of which are changeable and others not; how a person turns out in life has nothing to do with being born into this mystical idea of original sin and wickedness.
Though many religious teachings are noxious, I certainly believe that this particular message associated with Christianity has the capacity to be psychologically damaging. The assertion that a person isn't worthy of love is rather vile, and I find this implied sense of worthlessness equally repugnant. A person has worth simply by existing, even the bad ones.
"We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid." ~ Benjamin Franklin
