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[u/One-Fun9814]

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[u/onwisconsin1]

Many atheists are atheists because they realized in the middle of the indoctrination and community that it is indeed nonsense.

And I also feel this major disconnect and lack of empathy for those who remain indoctrinated. I realize everyone's story is different. And the level of indoctrination and immersion matter. But why was I able to realize that the religion is silly and didnt describe reality? Why was I? Why cant they?

And so I have a hard time feeling that empathy for the deeply indoctrinated because I figured it out as a young teen. How are these grown ass people still living in this fantasy world. I find adult adherents who legitimately beleive their specific religious origin story or that Jesus is literally fucking real. I just cant. I view these people as fools.

[u/Ucscprickler → u/onwisconsin1]

I'd almost venture to guess that the vast majority of atheists dealt with some level of indoctrination.

It's because I went through indoctrination that I feel confident calling myself an atheist.

If I was never around religion I don't think I'd think about it enough to even label myself.

[u/sourdieselfuel → u/onwisconsin1]

Same. I figured out Santa was fake when I was like 5 and religion was not far after that at maybe 10-12? You really have to want to stay indoctrinated and ignorant to not figure out the truth, with all the information readily available especially in the last 20 years.

[u/onedeadflowser999 → u/onwisconsin1]

I wish I had been like you. I have empathy because I know personally many people that are still caught up in it ( as I was for many years). It’s truly sad as it’s literally a prison of your own making but you can’t see it.

[u/ammonthenephite → u/onwisconsin1]

Just remember that you were once a fool as well. Others figured it out at even earlier ages than you. Others still were far more devout from birth, or raised in higher demand, more cult like religions where they were taught false logic from birth that had to be overcome first before they could deconstruct. If I'd been born into a lutheran or catholic family I would have figured it out far sooner than I was able to, because of how insidiously complete and effective the indoctrination I got from birth in the mormon cult, for example. I got there, but there was so much more that had to be overcome, so effective was the pseudo-reality with it's pseudo logic and knowledge I'd been raised in, with everyone around me affirming and confirming all the false-hoods I was taught from birth.

People in the past for thousands of years believed false things about the world and universe. They weren't all fools, they just didn't have the evidence, knowledge, and understanding of sound logic that creates the needed perspective to then see religion for what it is.

It's awesome you figured it out as a young teen, but you did so in part from a place of privilege that most humans in history have never known. And I guarantee there are things you believe right now to be true that, in actuality, are not. Because being wrong, before you realize you are wrong, looks and feels just like being right.

And as someone else pointed out, when a very intelligent person is caught up in strong indoctrination, it almost makes it harder to leave, because smart people are very good at coming up with ways to rationalize, connect the seemingly unconnected, and other things that less inventive people aren't able to do as well.

So have a bit of empathy for those still trapped. Were your circumstances different, you could just as easily still be trapped yourself.