midnight

Ok more of a rant than anything else. I've been following this thread: http://www.iidb.org/vbb/showthread.p...threadid=63158

Sorry my HTML is really rusty. But is it just me or does this seem like one of the faith preying on an infidel. Do you agree? Do you think this happens quite often? I do. . . any idea what could be done to help combat this here and out in the "real" world. Ex: Evangelical tv preachers, AA, etc.

Barcode

The thing is, in my experience, the religious do not seem to be *consciously* aware that offering what they consider to be something useful has the potential to do far more harm than good.

My ex Jehovah's Witness girlfriend (three guesses as to the main reason she's an ex) explained to me that people seemed genuinely interested when she went around after a funeral (!?!), or if they had experienced some personal loss.

In her mind, she was merely offering them something to make them happy -- it seems irrelevant if such a things cannot be substantiated in the theists mind, since all you need is faith.

If religion has any merit, it should be able to draw people like you or I, who are of a sane disposition and don't have any major psychological demons to overcome.

The fact that it tends to draw the psychologically vulnerable speaks volumes to me.

It seems to be replacing one addiction with another. Just because something may not be causing physical harm, says nothing about what it does to the mental state of the individual.

I just hope I never get so depressed I turn to religion ...

Rhaedas

I know some think that Dawkins meme idea, that christianity is like a mind virus, is purely a reinvention of an old concept. But in a case like this, doesn't it seem an accurate description? The virus must spread via its host to other minds, and depending on the host, that spreading effort could be subtle, or very direct and "pushy".

As for what to do about it in the real word, all a non-believer can do is stick to their guns. I myself try to feel out each situation, and unfortunately in today's world, many times it's just easier to be non-commital to the remarks, so that your true thoughts don't become apparent.

But there's the few opportunities where throwing questions back at the person is effective as well...again with the meme idea, it's in a way amusing to see their mind backtrack, trying to cover up the confusion and doubt with the built-in apologetics. Usually they'll leave you alone at that point, and if you're lucky, you've planted a "antibody" of doubt to confront their ideas. Thinking can be dangerous to ideas without foundations...

CaptainOfOuterSpace

And what does that say about god, if the only people that are willing to start believing in him are emotional cripples? A bit sadistic, isn't it, if god requires you to experience a life-altering catastrophe just so that your mind would be more open to his wonderfulness.

midnight

I wish there was some way to massively dissiminate the history behind christianity. I think that it would help. I've seriously considered printing up little pamphlets like they do but with stats and facts with the real truth in 'em.