What's up with creationism?

[Mr.wizard]

And also the false comfort of a parental figure creating an environment just for them rather than an indifferent universe.  If there's one thing a lot of Christians thrive on, it's hubris wrapped in a thin coat of false humility.

...and there's nothing wrong with it. As far as I can tell religion is a form of therapy, prayer is a sort of therapy. It helps relieve tension and anxiety and makes someone feel good about themselves... is there something wrong with that?

Only when those same people are trying to get it put into public schools to be taught to the masses as science.

[ApeNotKillApe]

And also the false comfort of a parental figure creating an environment just for them rather than an indifferent universe.  If there's one thing a lot of Christians thrive on, it's hubris wrapped in a thin coat of false humility.

...and there's nothing wrong with it. As far as I can tell religion is a form of therapy, prayer is a sort of therapy. It helps relieve tension and anxiety and makes someone feel good about themselves... is there something wrong with that?

I hear heroin has similar effects.

[marssims]

Then again, I've barely heard of any people who understand evolution and then reject it. So it's a lot to do with education. Many theists are quite happy to accept evolution into their beliefs.

I completely agree, education is the key. But is there a way to convince people who have been educated on the subject and still reject it?

There's a TV show, of this guy trying to convince creationists that evolution is a fact. Is is amazing the rejection of evidence. Makes me cry for mankind a little.

https://youtu.be/Oju_lpqa6Ug

[mediocrates]

Fr?
Like, what's up with it?

It was made up by man with a desire to explain the world during a time when the nature of the world was much more poorly understood.

It has no basis in current science. 

It is wrong. 

That is all.

[KevinM1]

And also the false comfort of a parental figure creating an environment just for them rather than an indifferent universe.  If there's one thing a lot of Christians thrive on, it's hubris wrapped in a thin coat of false humility.

...and there's nothing wrong with it. As far as I can tell religion is a form of therapy, prayer is a sort of therapy. It helps relieve tension and anxiety and makes someone feel good about themselves... is there something wrong with that?

The problem is that it's quite literally delusional. The only reason why it's considered okay/healthy is because religion still largely sits in a place that makes it taboo to criticize. Despite it being purely fantasy and nothing more than believing you're a chosen one with a super powerful invisible friend/abuser (believe in me or else.... do what I say or else). In any other context theists would be treated for their delusions, but because it's religion it's socially okay.

And the problem is that they're determined to have their delusion spread by trying to force it into schools. These aren't people you can just ignore because they've found illusory comfort in their lives. They're dangerous because they have a mandate from their invisible friend/abuser to make society dumber by subscribing to that delusion, too.

So, yeah, there are several problems with it. What an individual theist may believe may not affect you in a general sense, but it's invariably a symptom of a larger problem. And on issues like this they tend to act like a hive mind with statements like "I don't personally believe in ID, but I don't see the harm in having it taught in schools" because spreading the delusion is paramount to them. And these people vote and climb into positions of power solely to spread it.

[Cyberman]

And also the false comfort of a parental figure creating an environment just for them rather than an indifferent universe.  If there's one thing a lot of Christians thrive on, it's hubris wrapped in a thin coat of false humility.

...and there's nothing wrong with it. As far as I can tell religion is a form of therapy, prayer is a sort of therapy. It helps relieve tension and anxiety and makes someone feel good about themselves... is there something wrong with that?

Prayer = masturbation for the soul?

Which would be fine, if the people encouraging it weren't splooging into areas that have nothing to do with them.

[LadyForCamus]

It provides an easy answer for easy minds who prefer easy over thinking.

And also the false comfort of a parental figure creating an environment just for them rather than an indifferent universe. If there's one thing a lot of Christians thrive on, it's hubris wrapped in a thin coat of false humility.

I came across a quote once, though I don't remember who said it. It went something like, "leave it to humans to think that the universe was created specifically for them."

[robvalue]

Pool: If people keep it to themselves and don't hurt anyone, it's fine. Simply believing a fairy story about how the world came about probably isn't too harmful, if you don't force it on anyone else (although it's hard to believe this kind of irrationality isn't going to impact them in other ways.) Too many people refuse to keep it to themselves though for it to be ignored. Indoctrinating children with nonsense and trying to push it into schools is harmful. If more people had the balls to call it "their belief", and treat it as such, things would probably be fine.

Marssims: That is a real problem, yes. You can educate someone yet their indoctrination can fight back impressively against reason. Trying to force them to believe real things is just as bad as them forcing us to believe nonsense, so I suppose all we can do is to continue to educate people in general. Indoctrination seems to be getting generally weaker, the new generations more savvy and the internet is a trump card. It may just be a case of waiting for the hopelessly indoctrinated to die out and be replaced by more liberal types.

[downbeatplumb]

"Teach the children how to think not what to think" I think this is Dawkins but he may have been quoting someone else.

[Catholic_Lady]

I believe in evolution. However, those who do believe in creationism also have some interesting scientific evidence to back up their claim. King posted about it once, but I forgot where.