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When my research associates and I once asked politically conservative Christians scoring high on authoritarianism to imagine what their life (and their world) might have been like had they never found religious faith, many described utter chaos—families torn apart, rampant infidelity and hate, cities on fire, the inner rings of hell.
By contrast, equally devout politically liberal Christians who scored low on authoritarianism described a barren world depleted of all resources, joyless and bleak, like the arid surface of the moon. For authoritarian Christians, a strong faith—like a strong leader—saves them from chaos and tamps down fears and conflicts. Donald Trump is a savior, even if he preens and swears, and waffles on the issue of abortion.
originally posted by: BuzzyWigs
Maybe it's true that they WOULD flip out without religion. Those who don't need religion to be decent people have the advantage, I think.
originally posted by: BuzzyWigs
a reply to: Annee
It takes a long long long time, and strong insight to learn things like that about ourselves.
Good for you!!
The Senator in that video actually seems like a perfectly nice man....and if what he says is what he believes, there may be some truth to the idea that some people ACTUALLY NEED RELIGION (an internalized handler) to keep themselves in check.
I believe that children can be taught to be their own internal handlers, and that religion is just a societal remedy for those who aren't bright enough to teach their kids well, or to learn for themselves how to internalize moral behavior.
If your parents were crap, or were indoctrinating you, then that's what you believe you need. I was not taught that. We learned (and so did our kids) to value others and to have compassion, empathy, cooperation, and kindness as our guides - our consciences.
originally posted by: olaru12
a reply to: Annee
After years of reading/research, vision quest, etc - - - I finally accepted I am atheist (at age 65).
Praise Bob.....
originally posted by: BuzzyWigs
a reply to: Annee
42
This number is at the root of creation and affects our lives directly. Each particular number has a unique meaning that speaks to it’s significance, and forty-two is no different. Whenever we speak of the significance of numbers, we are speaking of a mystical meaning which must be explained in the physical world, yet it requires a teacher to lead us to understand its significance.
In the intro, Ray talks about when the religion virus is most infectious:
Virtually all religions rely upon early childhood indoctrination as the prime infection strategy.
Other infection strategies include proselytizing, offering help and financial aid with strings attached, providing educational opportunities at religious institutions and many other approaches which we encounter frequently in the media and in daily exposure to religion.
In other chapters, he talks about religious guilt, how religion affects intelligence and personality, and how to live a virus-free life.
It’s a nice extension after you’ve read something like The God Delusion or Breaking the Spell for the first time.
originally posted by: BuzzyWigs
It's a deadly disease. Spread willingly by parents to their offspring.
No God and no myths The story of Jesus Christ to Pirahã did not sound convincing enough since they did not understand such words as “century”, “time” and “history”. After Pirahã tribe had listened to the missionary Daniel Everett, the only questions they asked were “was he brown like us, or white like you”? “Did you see him? Did your father see him?” According to Pirahã , if you or at least people close to you haven’t experienced it, it is simply not relevant. Pirahã does not have any concepts of a supreme entity or God and they lost interest in Daniel’s stories as soon as they discovered that he had no empirical verification for Jesus. They require evidence on personal experience (Xibipíío). Otherwise they dismiss it as irrelevant.
To my mind, such tribes as Pirahã show that happiness lies in in small, daily activities. The more we try to complicate, the worse our lives become. It seems it’s quite easy to be happy, as long as you do not over-complicate your life… Don’t you think so? fameiva.com...
In other chapters, he talks about religious guilt,
how religion affects intelligence and personality,
and how to live a virus-free life.
This thread had turned into portlandia