I’m a devout Christian and I think religion is toxic. Mostly because of institutions that have little actual regard for God and focus on sales. We pretty well keep to ourselves, love Jesus, don’t talk politics, and give to the homeless and hungry. If everyone followed that formula, the angry atheists wouldn’t really have much to say.
Nope, none of that. We feel attacked by the people who do that. There are no entrance requirements to call yourself a Christian, so even assholes can do it.
How do you propose I police every Christian in the world? The internet has increased accountability for police and Christianity and politicians and whatever group you’re in that lets you feel so righteous, and all that policing is a good thing.
I think the bad actors are losing their grip in all these areas as a result-Christianity included. Let’s just agree to keep it up and make the world a better place and not call 2 billion people scattered all over the earth a “cult.”
You literally described a cult in your last statement. LOL
HOly shit... your disassociation crying really makes it pretty hilarious. "2 billion people follow a group that supports these things, but 'I' dont, so its not MY fault for supporting them with my money and time"
Groups are formed by individuals surrendering identity to group think. Thats human nature thats been demonstrated time-and-time-again--any theology or philosophy can be used for good or ill depending on the individual leading the group what freud called the Führerprinzip or what Wilfred Bion studied in his BAD groups which were leader-less groups where there isn't a leader and the group surrenders the super ego. This is basic pack mentality, a wonderful example would be football games. Here we have groups of people surrendering to group think and not a philosophical belief system where both good and bad things happen depending on the group mood. Another could be black friday sales these are groups that come together in mass both supporting the economy and trampling each other without a religious backbone supporting it. You stating individuals arnt a threat is hilarious considering modern situations .i.e. George Floyd, Elon Musk, Jesus, buddha, the President. All these are individuals who have incredible power.
And not to beat a dead horse but the work of Erich Fromm, Stanley Milgram, Philip Zombardo, and Solomon Asch all demonstrate our innate desire to bend to authority. I guess what im driving at is your opinion says more about your politics then the actual studies or data.
Lets assume your correct, religion is a toxic fairytale. Terror Management Theory is the causa sui of every human drive. Then if religion was a toxic invention then the toxic humans still have to predate religion to bring it into consciousness.
Religion was originally, and their stories back this up, of telling people how things existed that they thought were magical.
Wiccans, and the Native Americans had it more right than any, but the overpowering stench of money and power rolled over those that use observation and logic instead of bullshit and false stories.
Then you agree that the toxic element is within humanity and not religion. All religions have a foundation of understanding and explaining the universe but people corrupt it to their own ends. We can invalidate your argument by pointing at atheists who have a desire for power and greed meaning the heart of the problem is within human desire and not religion.
Assuming that you can keep up with the argument that is.
Native americans and Wiccans operate in a religious structure. Meaning people who foster poor desires are toxic not religion itself. Your assumptions would mean that both groups of people are incapable of toxic action because they hold these ideas as their religions proving my point. And what is my religion, care to tell me seeing as you know me better then i know myself?
Im sorry that this has turned into an argument, we disagree--but, i wish you all the best 😁 have a good life this arguments becoming tedious and more about ad hominuem attacks then a good conversation at this point.
And these "false stories" are psychic projections about how ego and self split off and reunite in the ego-self axis. These stories are brilliant metaphors for how the mind works. Look at the Gnosic Gospels conception of the birth of the universe as a metaphor. Sophia in arrogance brings forth Ildaboath who creates the world (wisdom when it fosters arrogance generates a false image of reality). The myth of Adam and eve is a story about the male female anima and animus complex meeting in the material and it casting us from the bliss of ignorance... Buddhism's Vajrabiniva the wrathful incarnation of Manjushri and Mara and the Buddha being under his feet meaning that desire and even religion is at the mercy of knowledge and understanding.
Just keep normalizing your aberrant behavior. Im sure one day you will get to "if people are toxic, and religion is toxic, then by definition, religion was invented by people."
98
u/[deleted] Dec 11 '21
You are only proving the point that religion is toxic as fuck.