What can be done?

[robvalue]

I am very much concerned about the harm that is being done by religion in the world. I feel that it is important to try and take action against this, but I feel at a loss as to what I can do personally, and I'm looking for ideas and maybe to try and inspire others into action. I apologize if anything I write offends people, I don't intend to. But I feel it is very important to talk about these issues in clear terms, as a lot is at stake. I don't wish to "attack" people, only the reasoning they are using for their beliefs. If religion was harmless, then it would be something that isn't my business. But that's far from the case.

I live in England, and here the harm done by religion appears to be less, and I certainly feel less prejudice against me as an atheist here as I hear about in the US. But I still think even here things could be better. And I want the rest of the world to be free of the harm.

Forums like this are fantastic, and I hope that maybe a few religious people at least go away with something to think about. Of course I hope that some even become atheists. But I am wondering what can be done on a bigger scale. And what can I do personally? I am somewhat restricted by being very ill, so travelling far is a problem for me. And I don't have money to spare.

I would love to be able to get people to think more logically and look to evidence rather than superstition, for their benefit as well as everyone else. I feel that defeating the mindset that is keeping these religions going is somehow key to stopping the harm that they do.

What harm you may ask? There has been and still exists much harm being done by religion, either directly or indirectly. Some examples:

(a) Wars. As far as my knowledge goes, a significant amount of the wars through history (and even now) are motivated by religion. One side (or both) feel they are acting on behalf of god, or that god has given them permission to invade somewhere, or that they need to attack another group or religious people who believe something else. What kind of "good" god wants you to go kill other people?

(b) Politics. There is a heavy does of religious influence in politics. It is still here in England, I don't think a prime-minister would dare to declare themselves an atheist. We are a pretty weak-christian country I feel, with people "sort of believing" and would label themselves christian. But I don't feel there is much strong belief or that they are really acting as if any of it were true. I'm sure there's some bible bashers (I have met some) but they are not too commonplace, at least where I have lived. But in the US especially, religion is clearly playing a massive part and I've heard all kind of scary things like people elected to office resorting to prayer rather than addressing problems. If people in charge are basing their decisions on religious belief, even partly, they are going to be causing harm.

© Difficulty leaving. In strong religious areas, declaring yourself an atheist is very hard. It can cost you family, friends, jobs (especially if you are involved in the church) and more. This gang mentality tries really hard to keep everyone in and towing the line, and punishing those who decide to leave. From what I have heard of Islam countries this is even more extreme, to the point where you life is threatened should you try and leave the religion.

(d) Moral bankruptcy. The more religious someone is, and the more they truly believe god is in charge of "morals", the less they are using their own morals to make decisions. At the extreme, if they are just following what a book or other religious people tell them to do, they are using no morals at all. It is simply a dictatorship.

(e) Restriction of free thinking. Religion firmly opposes scepticism and logical inquiry. If you believe (or are forced to believe) you have all the answers, and that these answers can't possibly be wrong, it deters you from trying to find other possible answers. Even asking questions about your religion is discouraged, if they are perceived to be endangering faith. Faith itself is a huge problem, people seem to think that faith is a good thing and should be encouraged. Faith is just believing something for reasons other than because it makes sense or has evidence. That amounts to either willful ignorance, or gullibility. These are not good traits, and can only stifle individuals and societies.

I'm sure I could go on, and other people could add many more. I tried to pick out some of the most impactful ones.

So what can be done, as a whole? What can I do? I want to further the cause, and to be there for other atheists. I want the world to be a better place. I try to do all I can, but I suppose I am asking for other direct causes of action that people could suggest, such as signing online petitions, going to particular websites to support certain ideas... If anyone has knowledge of simple things like this I could do, please let me know.

And I encourage everyone to try and think how the cause can be progressed. I would love to set up a local atheist group, but I wonder if in my area it is really necessary. If I lived in the US, I think I most definitely would try to start such a group.

Thanks for reading! I accept there may not be much more I can do, but I live in hope that I can make some small difference. I love shows like the atheist experience, as they promote rational thinking, and out of the hundreds of calls I've seen not one religious caller has even made the beginnings of an argument that makes the slightest bit of sense. I want people to stop believing stuff just because they are told to, and to think for themselves. I realize that if you have been religious a long time, it is a huge deal to step back and admit, "I was wrong". The longer it goes on, the more invested you are in trying to prove you are right, no matter what lengths you must go to.

[Tobie]

(b) Politics. There is a heavy does of religious influence in politics. It is still here in England, I don't think a prime-minister would dare to declare themselves an atheist. We are a pretty weak-christian country I feel, with people "sort of believing" and would label themselves christian. But I don't feel there is much strong belief or that they are really acting as if any of it were true. I'm sure there's some bible bashers (I have met some) but they are not too commonplace, at least where I have lived. But in the US especially, religion is clearly playing a massive part and I've heard all kind of scary things like people elected to office resorting to prayer rather than addressing problems. If people in charge are basing their decisions on religious belief, even partly, they are going to be causing harm.

Luckily this is becoming less of an issue in the UK. Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg are both atheists, and it has done nothing to harm their popularity (Clegg does that well enough by being a massive hypocrite). The Tories are normally fairly religious, but hopefully they won't be in power after next year (a lot of new voters, including myself, got fucked over by their tuition fees increase, and UKIP are stealing votes from them).

[robvalue]

Oh really? Thanks, I didn't know that. I'm happy to hear that there is some open atheism going on.

[Dystopia]

(b) Politics. There is a heavy does of religious influence in politics. It is still here in England, I don't think a prime-minister would dare to declare themselves an atheist. We are a pretty weak-christian country I feel, with people "sort of believing" and would label themselves christian. But I don't feel there is much strong belief or that they are really acting as if any of it were true. I'm sure there's some bible bashers (I have met some) but they are not too commonplace, at least where I have lived. But in the US especially, religion is clearly playing a massive part and I've heard all kind of scary things like people elected to office resorting to prayer rather than addressing problems. If people in charge are basing their decisions on religious belief, even partly, they are going to be causing harm.

Luckily this is becoming less of an issue in the UK. Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg are both atheists, and it has done nothing to harm their popularity (Clegg does that well enough by being a massive hypocrite). The Tories are normally fairly religious, but hopefully they won't be in power after next year (a lot of new voters, including myself, got fucked over by their tuition fees increase, and UKIP are stealing votes from them).

In portugal, two of our presidents described themselves as secularists and one prime minister called himself an agnostic, even though everyone knows he's an atheist - And the majority of the population is supposedly catholic. IMO religion has become boring in Europe and people follow traditions and describe themselves as Christians just because it's the norm, but most don't pray or read the bible daily.

[robvalue]

Well I'm very glad to hear I'm wrong about atheism in politics, at least in Europe

[pocaracas]

Hasn't someone already done something?

---

---

And in the UK!

[robvalue]

Yeah that's cool

I guess I could have said what more can be done. I think England is certainly less in the grips of religion than the world in general.

[Tobie]

Yeah that's cool

I guess I could have said what more can be done. I think England is certainly less in the grips of religion than the world in general.

Whatever the Scandinavians are doing seems to work.

[Mister Agenda]

Promote critical thinking and the rest will follow.

[ManMachine]

Promote critical thinking and the rest will follow.

If only...


MM