As I was reading Jeffery Mark’s book, Christian No More, one of his examples jumped out as something I’d seen before. He writes about how some Christians are obsessed with even the smallest of things going wrong. I’ve seen it myself. A lady was holding a door open for some people entering a restaurant. She thought everybody had entered and let go, but it turns out one man didn’t get in. The lady started crossing herself and praying. While this is definitely an extreme example, it does highlight just how powerful the scare tactics the Church uses are.

What’s worse is this type of indoctrination and brainwashing is done to children. Many children live in fear that they will do something incorrectly and have their ticket to Heaven revoked. It just isn’t right. This can also by psychologically scarring too. I know plenty of people who have left the Church but are still haunted by the eternal fires of Hell.

I guess my point is that there are plenty of bigger things to worry about, religious or not.  Things like war, and protecting our planet for example(Unless you think global warming doesn’t matter because we are already saved). I also wish people would stop worrying so damn much. Take some time and simply enjoy your life. Everybody is going to make mistakes, but you have to move on past them. Our time really is limited and I know this is the only shot I have.

Tell me you didn’t laugh.

When I saw this image, I quickly found myself able to relate to it. I’m sure many atheists have been hit with something to this extent. So much for being morally superior… The thing is, atheists are also guilty of this. I’ve even seen this tendancy in myself to take this approach. Really it gets us nowhere. Screaming that somebody is an idiot or a dumbass won’t convince anybody, it will just enrage them. Discussions should atleast have some class to them if anybody wishes to be successful.

Many people are familiar with the term Stockholm Syndrome. For those of you unfamiliar with it, here is an explanation from Wikipedia:

Stockholm syndrome is a psychological response sometimes seen in abducted hostages, in which the hostage shows signs of loyalty to the hostage-taker, regardless of the danger or risk in which they have been placed. The syndrome is named after the Norrmalmstorg robbery of Kreditbanken at Norrmalmstorg in Stockholm, in which the bank robbers held bank employees hostage from August 23 to August 28, 1973. In this case, the victims became emotionally attached to their captors, and even defended them after they were freed from their six-day ordeal.

This seems to resemble Christianity in a way. Or any religion with salvation and damnation. I feel churches do employ these techniques to make better followers. Christianity starts off by telling you about the evils and pain of Hell, but then they tell you about salvation. If you just do whatever we say blindly and without questioning, you will make it to the next life and be happy. This produces a strong impact on people. They begin exhibiting signs of sympathy for their religion. Look at the people who defend the church at all costs against heresy, science and opposing ideas.

Psychologically, Hell can be an extremely scaring concept. It can take some people YEARS to get over those fears, even if they no long believe in the concept. Hell wasn’t even originally part of Christianity either. The Hell we know of today, only shows up in the New Testament. It was clearly an afterthought, to help control people.

I’m not sure that Stockholm Syndrome is the best analogy though; it may be too strong. Yes religion can have drastic negative effects, but is it equivalent to having a gun up to your head? If anything it is a watered down version of Stockholm Syndrome. What do you think?

I completely agree with the quote which says we are all atheists, I just have one less god. I actually take it further and believe we are all born as atheists. I mean look at animals, they don’t have gods or worship. Then again, we have a higher level of consciousness then them so its not the best arguement. Really the only way religion can perpetutate is through indoctrination of offspring. I think instead all children should be raised agnostic until they are ready to make their own decision. Even if its an atheist family, this seems the best option to me. Indoctrination of ANY kind is wrong. Really it seems like child abuse, but good luck passing that in America. If children are told/taught agnosticism it’s really inbetween then. That way when they become adolescents or adults the decision is theirs. Indoctrination takes away the part of choice. Most people wind up with huge psychological scars caused by fear of Hell and punishment. When such things are drilled into your head from an early age, its difficult to break free from them. Religion may have helped us before, but now we understand our world. We don’t need pseudo-science bullshit attempting to explain our world. We have some of the answers. It’s just not fair to force beliefs on anybody, even if they are of atheism.

Really though. If God truly did exist, and truly wanted all of us to be aware of his prescence it would be pretty easy. I mean he is omnipotent right? Yet, the biggest crime one can commit in reference to the Bible is denying the existence of the Holy Spirit. Its the one surefire ticket straight to Hell. All God would have to do is show up again like in the good old days, perform a few miracles and I would be satisfied. But unless that happens I’ll remain an atheist. Instead “His Word” is passed on by preachers and politicions with their own agendas. 

I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires. – Susan B. Anthony

I couldn’t have said it better myself. Of course proof of existence would ruin the whole point of faith though….

How does the idea of a “Catholic child” not make you sick? The child isn’t being given a choice whatsoever in their religion. Their parents have already made a decision for them before they can even make a good decision. Young children are very impressionable and you scare the shit out of them with fear of eternal damnation, that will stick with them. Indoctrinating children is easily equivalent to brainwashing. I think its truly a form of child abuse.

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