(November 24, 2021 at 5:43 pm)Brian37 Wrote:(November 21, 2021 at 7:04 pm)Agnostic1 Wrote: Religion, sadly, will never go away. No matter how much science you put forward, religious followers want to control people with their beliefs. I often wonder how many religious people would pass a lie detector test that they DO, in fact, BELIEVE and that religion isn't just a handy label to put on yourself to have (imagined) moral hierarchy. Every religious person I have ever known is a hypocrite and goes against their own beliefs and they always have some lame excuse or they just throw dirt over the problem. I am so tired of people saying they are going to pray for me when it is ALWAYS said in retaliatory sarcasm. If you're going to REALLY pray FOR me then great! I could use a LOT more money, thank you. I want to live to be 125. I want to have a huge birthday party, every year attended by celebrities, I want my kids to have their every dream and wish come true and I will keep you updated so you can make sure when you 'pray' for me that you don't miss anything.
I feel like religious people have all the rights in this country. They can start churches and don't have to pay taxes. The closest thing we have to an Atheist "church" is the Universal Unitarian church that STILL has sermons based on cult or sect spiritual beliefs. AND, of course, all religions are welcome to attend a UU church. Where is the church of science? Or maybe not a "church" since religious folks have coined that term but maybe a gathering place for atheists? I would go every week if I could find one.
I recently joined a MeetUp for Atheists. I am waiting for them to approve me!
If you accept that religion won't go away, and I agree, then why are you "astonished"?
I'd only use the word "astonished" in the context that people cling to the past so much. But I've always accepted to greater or lesser degrees, humans are tribal and superstitious.
I agree. There is no reason to be surprised, once you know humans well enough.
It is a big planet with billions of all sorts of people living in all sorts of conditions.
Some are curious, some are less curious, some want an education for education sake, some just want a diploma and a nice paycheck.
Not every human is going to be a genius.
If some of them are comfortable with a certain religion, then let them enjoy their religion.
I think everyone has a certain natural state. Some are attracted to helping others cross the street, some don’t want to work and prefer to steal purses, some will kill you for 100$ and less, etc.
I remember a part from a Richard Dawkins video. I think he was in the UK. There was a certain teacher and he said something like this:
Without religion, I don’t know how to teach these boys morals, how to teach them that stealing is wrong.
There was a boy who told me, before taking this class, it had never occurred to me that stealing was wrong.
Then the camera shifts to Richard Dawkins alone, facing the camera and I think he said:
I did not know what to tell that guy. Certainly, religion can be used to control the behavior of those boys.
^^^^^I think that Richard Dawkins or me can give them reasons why building a society that works together is better than a society of thieves.
You can also invite some 70 y old from prison who has been there most of his life for a murder. Maybe that will start a spark in their mind.
It’s just that it is too time consuming. Maybe christianity is a nice shortcut:
Tell them to behave or they are going to hell, since the big cop in the sky is watching.
