all 46 comments

[–]whereswhat 11 insightful - 4 fun11 insightful - 3 fun12 insightful - 4 fun -  (2 children)

Religions are just popular cults, haha.

[–]suckitreddit[S] 4 insightful - 2 fun4 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

Religions are not just popular cults. In religion, there is a higher power. We are below him/her/it. In cults, the powers come from mortals, and that is a problem, because humans will make mistakes, and change with the wind if they so want. Religious texts, though open to interpretation, typically do not change with the times. They have universal, timeless truths. Cults on the other try persuade people to change human nature, or to be something other than human. They tell you things that are completely false, and for their benefit.

[–]whereswhat 6 insightful - 3 fun6 insightful - 2 fun7 insightful - 3 fun -  (0 children)

Belief without evidence (i.e. faith) is required for the followers of both religions and cults. You wanna talk about changing human nature? Some horrific stuff has been done in the name of faith. Google it if you don't believe me.

Religious texts are written in a way to be ambiguous so that people of authority may interpret them in a way that best suits the interests of those in power, even if those interests change over time.

I am sorry if you find yourself in a situation where everyone around you prescribes to a particular faith. I have been there. When you start asking questions, and I mean really asking, things will start to unravel fast. It can feel very isolating and scary, especially if you are young. Just know you are not alone.

[–][deleted]  (16 children)

[deleted]

    [–]sproketboy 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (2 children)

    I'm not buying into this statement.

    That's because you're a cultist. You should check out Paul Vander Klay for an explanation.

    [–]FediNetizen 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

    You should check out Paul Vander Klay for an explanation.

    Or you could "check out" the actual source of the observation that the "Decline of God" will lead man to create his own meaning. It was Nietzsche, by the way. Not Mr. Klay.

    And if Mr. Klay is characterizing all non-religious groups as "cults", then Mr. Klay is not a thinker, but rather a folk leader for evangelical Christians.

    [–]sproketboy 4 insightful - 2 fun4 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

    Yeah and Nietzsche wasn't saying this in a positive way. He was just ahead of the curve on cancerous woke culture. Don't bother looking into it - stay in your cult. It will be easier on you when you don't see it coming.

    [–]suckitreddit[S] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

    I was using the term "cult" loosely. But there is a big difference between religion, and cult. The cult's objective is the glorification of men, and the sacrifice of individual followers. Religions, like Christianity, don't require binding yourself to a group. You can follow the religion, and read the books, and worship God without church. Scientology for example is a cult, or like a cult, because it requires undue sacrifice for the organization, and there is an obvious hierarchal structure.

    In Christianity, there is something resembling a hierarchy, but God is above all mortals, and nobody can supplant him. The decline of religion, any religion, creates cult-like groups that center around the worship of men. And men are extremely fallible, and they can remove your rights. In Christianity, there are commandments. Nobody can remove them from you because they are God given. When you have a man as a deity, then he can at a whim change your life, and manipulate.

    [–][deleted] 1 insightful - 2 fun1 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 2 fun -  (10 children)

    So you are not believing in smthg. That is sad. You will never move a mountain.

    [–]knobby 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

    Humans have built machines to move mountains. If humans would work together instead of being so divided, we could do anything. Mountains are small scale in the grand scheme of things.

    [–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

    Thanks.

    [–][deleted] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

    FAITH is not BELIEVING.

    [–][deleted] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

    Exactly.

    [–][deleted] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

    I mostly don't believe in anything, at least I try, and whenever I find a belief inside my soul, I tear it out and utterly annihilate it.

    Yet, I am more filled with faith than pretty much anybody I've ever met.

    [–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

    We are brothers in our souls, i already knew this.

    [–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

    What? I don't believe in smthg? Tell me something are you attempting to move a mountain and if so how's that going? And after such thoughtful conversation you say "that is sad". You have know idea if I believe in anything let alone smthg? Sometimes, when I get comments like yours I see religious people having a reality tunnel they cannot leave. Anytime there is a perceived (even if it is not there) anti God comment you are ready to convert the sinful. You see things that are not there and make rather shallow judgements about others without conversation, data, research or basic critical thinking.

    All the power to you Eli

    [–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

    Now:

    If i told you my birthday, you'd never believe in how many errationiously wrong paths the two snakes living in my mind needed to meet to ever find each one one again. Doctors just told me i'm wrong. Doctors never see two snakes fighting in one head and i'm neither writing about https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizophrenia or https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissociative_identity_disorder .

    They only got tests.

    I don't need drugs, i'm not only on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed all the time (so the world looks slow to me) but the white snake in my head bites the black one in fighting your logic (which i can, seriously).

    No: In fact it is the other way around, the serious snake (the black one) tries to not hurt you, not even your veil.

    That is why both are not bad.

    You can re-fact-check (by combing) when my two snakes are fighting and when they are loving each other.

    So now your telling me about your definition of a god to believe in.

    Think again.

    Even my spirituality works in other ways. (Just imagine big bees and beavers liking me, somewhat).

    My god is a https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golf_ball , hanging on a https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosary.

    He changes colors just as i'm changing underwear or women or universities.

    Medicinal Doctors never understood organic chemistry.

    I can. Even all the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chirality .

    And guess what: I not only got dew on me all time, i got two golf balls.

    One of them: The orange one, i am very able to throw with both hands.

    Very precise even.

    Tell me a pile of shit, i've not been at.

    [–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

    <If i told you my birthday, you'd never believe in how many errationiously wrong paths the two snakes living in my mind needed to meet to ever find each one one again. Doctors just told me i'm wrong. Doctors never see two snakes fighting in one head and i'm neither writing about https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizophrenia or https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissociative_identity_disorder .>

    I like it, don't care for most of what psychology does. Two snakes or a good angel and a dark angel on shoulders; this is ancient metaphor to get to know your self. Yet, know one can show you the way to your own inner being, soul if you please.

    To use the words believe or is creates static concrete memetics in my mind. My motto is to know as much as I can stuff into my brain/mind thingy and believe as little as I can muster. God to me is the fact the largest material bodies in Universe, implode explode to recreate the quantum particles, which conglomerate together once again to create all the elements Tabled Periodic and the largest bodies in Universe (As above, as below).

    Funny, I am a trained chemist and love the fact my hands are chiral.

    ...create a great day...

    PS: Please describe my veil.

    [–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

    Fun fact no 2: They can't diagnose my condition.

    [–]sproketboy 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

    [–]knobby 8 insightful - 2 fun8 insightful - 1 fun9 insightful - 2 fun -  (2 children)

    When you go to your place or worship, who leads? God, or a man with a book? A book that he says was written by God. What version does he have? How many times has it been revised, by man?

    A book that old and with that many different versions and translations can't be very accurate.

    How many cults are run and have been run on religious grounds? How many people died in religious wars because "my book better than yours!"?

    Many people who don't follow religion can still see the good in a peaceful and organized society. Nobody wants to live in a world where you have to kill and fight for everything.

    Humans should just stop being fucking retards and always fighting over dumb shit and start working together. It'll never happen, but imagine if we dedicated the insane amount of resources that are used on being assholes to each other to do something productive. We could have crazy cool advances in computing and space exploration, or anything.

    All the hate is a waste of energy and resources.

    I guess I don't like religion because it teaches you what to think rather than how to think. If we could all have a little empathy for the other guy, and a bit less hate(or fear? I'm not really sure why people can't accept each other) for those that are different than us, we could do so much more as a society. As humankind.

    [–]suckitreddit[S] 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

    Many people who don't follow religion can still see the good in a peaceful and organized society. Nobody wants to live in a world where you have to kill and fight for everything.

    Your perspective is narrow because it is based on modern times. Pre-modern times, religion created order. There are commandments to follow, and a God that is watching everything you do. Religion helped to create civilization by creating peace. People were persuaded to do the right thing because of the promise of heaven, nirvana, avoidance of punishment, etc.

    In a time when there is no established law, no courts, no police, religion creates civility.

    [–][deleted] 3 insightful - 3 fun3 insightful - 2 fun4 insightful - 3 fun -  (0 children)

    Yes. Pre-modern times. Not modern times. Meaning you tacitly admit that in modern times we don't need it to create order. For that we have laws, which are guided by founding principles and more importantly an understanding of why those principles are the way they are. I flatly reject the claim that religion "helped created peace", when the entire history of warfare is full of justifications on behalf of religion as early as we know. People are equally persuaded to warfare by those same promises of heaven or punishment.

    In other words, your justification here, your reply here, is a contradiction with your original thesis. You claim in the original that it's somehow still necessary, but you defend it by proclaiming some supposed ideal in the past you allege exists without evidence. It has never truly been religion that creates civility, from the very earliest it has been legal codes and governance (see also: the code of Hammurabi). As modern times demonstrate quite well, most people can be without religion and observe the same things just fine.

    Edit: As for the final nail in the coffin, now is the best of all times by any metric we have for the most of all people. Fewest crimes, fewest diseases, easiest lives, longest lifespan if you manage to not be an obeast. No actual metric supports your worldview, I assert, and I guarantee any you come up with I'm already familiar with and can state with absolute certainty is a lie (either of omission or otherwise). In fact, within nations and between nations, the correlation is CONSISTENTLY in favor of less religion being better.

    [–]Literallyawoman 6 insightful - 3 fun6 insightful - 2 fun7 insightful - 3 fun -  (0 children)

    Aw I remember being a teen

    [–][deleted] 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

    You can define your own. Nobody can hassle you, for believing whatever you believe. It is the law in most countries.

    [–][deleted] 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun -  (4 children)

    Here is some more information about the negative effects of the LGBT that shows its negative effects on society, it is essentially a sex cult that is about men worshipping their desire to sodomize other men, it seems to me that the reason why there is aversion to homosexuality (what they call "homophobia") is similar to the aversion of incest due to both having very harmful effects on society:

    Of the 38,739 new HIV diagnoses in the US and dependent areas in 2017, 27,000 (70%) were among adult and adolescent gay and bisexual men.

    https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/group/msm/index.html

    The incidence of anal cancer has rapidly increased amongst men due to the prevalence of homosexuality, rising from an 8% incident rate in the 1950s to 74% in the mid 1980s.

    Wexner SD, Milsom JW, Dailey TH. The demographics of anal cancers are changing. Identification of a high-risk population. Diseases of the Colon and Rectum 1987;30(12):942-6.

    HIV-positive men who have sex with men are up to 90 times more likely than the general population to develop anal cancer... Abnormal anal cytology in HIV-positive men who have sex with men is highly indicative of the presence of abnormal anal cells that may be precancerous and should prompt further investigation

    University of California - Los Angeles. “Study Shows That Anal Cytology Predicts Anal Precancer In HIV-positive Gay Men.” ScienceDaily, 31 March 2007. The research by Ross D. Cranston et al appears in the February issue of the International Journal of STD & AIDS.

    One in eight gay and bisexual men in London living with HIV

    A new report published by Public Health England (PHE) today in advance of National HIV Testing Week shows 6% of gay and bisexual men are now living with HIV, rising to 13% in London (one in eight).

    https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2014/11/18/13-of-gay-and-bisexual-men-in-london-living-with-hiv/

    The anti-sodomites like to quote a 1997 study from the Journal of Sex Research that polled 2,583 older homosexuals and found that the most common number of lifetime partners fell somewhere between 101 and 500, and that 10% to 16% reported having more than 1,000.

    A 2009 Australian “Gay Census” that was not restricted to age found that a quarter of homosexuals reported over 100 partners and 10% had so many they had “no idea.” The older the men were, the more likely they were to be in the over 100 or “no idea” categories.

    http://takimag.com/article/the_straight_dope_on_homosexuality_elizabeth_mccaw/print

    In 2014, gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men accounted for 83% of primary and secondary syphilis cases where sex of sex partner was known in the United States.

    https://www.cdc.gov/msmhealth/STD.htm

    Higher rates of Hepatitis B:

    https://www.cdc.gov/msmhealth/viral-hepatitis.htm

    Information on how promiscious homosexual men are:

    https://archive.is/o/LRe05/advindicate.com/articles/3022

    Correlation between molestation and homosexuality

    In research with 942 nonclinical adult participants, gay men and lesbian women reported a significantly higher rate of childhood molestation than did heterosexual men and women. Forty-six percent of the homosexual men in contrast to 7% of the heterosexual men reported homosexual molestation. Twenty-two percent of lesbian women in contrast to 1% of heterosexual women reported homosexual molestation. This research is apparently the first survey that has reported substantial homosexual molestation of girls. Suggestions for future research were offered.

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11501300

    Look what homosexuality has done to Afghanistan, a conservative Muslim society that frowns upon homosexuality. If something like this can happen to a society where homosexuality is looked down upon, who is to say it cannot happen in the west?:

    https://freewestmedia.com/2017/01/09/gang-rape-of-boy-in-sweden-part-of-afghan-culture/

    https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/nov/13/afghanistan-paedophile-ring-that-abused-over-500-boys

    [–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

    Why is this account deleted? He seems to be contributing worthwhile content.

    [–]knobby 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

    I think that's his actual username

    [–][deleted] 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

    I don't think so... Both your username and mine are hyperlinks. His is... not.

    [–]knobby 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

    Yeah, I'm retarded lol

    [–]slushpilot 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

    As an atheist, I fully agree. We all like to think of ourselves as rational thinkers, but together in large groups without some coherent narrative, we are anything but.

    I like to tell myself hopeful stories about some "greater purpose" for humanity like reaching for the stars. Maybe that's as you say wanting to become god—but I simultaneously see the vastness of the universe and our minuscule scale as an insignificant bacterium on an insignificant mote of dust. It is definitely not arrogance or hubris.

    Your point about drugs is an interesting one: there are some people who are "seekers" in psychedelic drugs, and they think deeply about their experiences in ways that provide a similar sense of scale and wonder. Even historically, psycheledics have been an important foundation of religious experience, sometimes as a facilitator of deep meditation or rituals like mass prayer. It is dangerous and needs to be kept in perspective as a tool for opening the mind: don't let it fall out.

    I personally believe in secular values, many of which I recognize as synthesized from various religions: the golden rule for example. It does not help us to deny the thousands of years of history and the stories that helped us organize ourselves into (mostly) cooperative tribes of millions.

    What humans absolutely need is some kind of greater vision and leadership beyond any one of ourselves (because we can't be trusted), and a way to feel connected to the whole of us. Religion provides that in a way that crosses generations and keeps a constant guiding star to move towards, never quite reaching it.

    Jordan Peterson had an interesting interpretation on this point, if I can recall and paraphrase slightly:

    Everybody has a void that gets filled by something like a religion, even when we don't call it that. Now the question is whether you want that to be something you choose to adopt (or at least can name as such), or else something that other untrained minds have loaded into you because you haven't chosen any guiding principles of your own.

    [–]FediNetizen 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

    Democratism, Socialism, Communism, BLM

    I think it's very telling which political ideologies, groups, and hobbies you consider to be cultish, and which you don't.

    [–]suckitreddit[S] 4 insightful - 3 fun4 insightful - 2 fun5 insightful - 3 fun -  (1 child)

    I think it's very telling which political ideologies, groups, and hobbies you consider to be cultish, and which you don't.

    Telling of what exactly? That I think destructive organizations are bad? Go ahead. Where is your evidence that these are a positive? They're not. The Democratic cities are on fire. Socialist countries are impoverished. The commies have slaves. BLM is harming black people. And they are cults, or at least cult-like.

    Can you be a Democrat, and vote for Republicans? Do they allow you to deviate? You know what a cult is, right? A cult is strict at adherence to their rules at a cost to yourself, and the members. I mean, they say "vote blue no matter who." That's some cult shit right there. So, if a Republican is better than a democrat you have to vote democrat? What nonsense is that?

    [–]FediNetizen 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

    Do they allow you to deviate?

    Yes. There are moderates, and hardcore progressives. That's one of the many ways your cult characterization doesn't hold water.

    I mean, they say "vote blue no matter who."

    Yes, "they" being DNC clowns that want to stay in power so they can keep peddling influence. And people that consider themselves left-leaning or democrats are perfectly free to reject this silly argument and there will be no consequences. Again, not a cult.

    So, if a Republican is better than a democrat you have to vote democrat? What nonsense is that?

    Again, you're just wrong here. You're not being forced to vote for anybody. There are both Democrats and Republicans that will always vote for their own party's candidates, but that's not because they're being forced to; it's because they identify with one party over another.

    This whole post is just a conservative rant about lefties poorly disguised as insight.

    [–]Comatoast 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (6 children)

    mortals are selfish, and malleable, and prone to making mistakes

    Ever read about the Olympic gods? Most of them embody the shittiest human actions concentrated.

    [–][deleted] 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (4 children)

    So like deified versions of humans that are worshipped? So they are not God then. Reminds me of Hindus worshipping human beings:

    https://www.foxnews.com/world/trump-fans-india-worship-president-build-wall

    Donald Trump is not God, Olympic idols and Hindu idols are not God. There is no difference between worshipping idols and worshipping humans, and other objects, which is what OP was describing. OP was also comparing idol worship (the golden calf) to how humans are worshipped today.

    If you wanted to refute him, you would mention how Jesus is a human, a mortal, and he seems to equate him with God. Looks like he falls into the same human worship that he notices other people have fallen into.

    [–]Comatoast 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

    Can you really use the Christ argument here? Because he technically transcended human form, and that's after performing a supposed myriad of miracles that wouldn't be possible for your standard human.

    [–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

    Can you really use the Christ argument here? Because he technically transcended human form,

    I know that Christians have a strange belief about Jesus, that he is God and the son of God and a part of a triune God, and they worship him. This is worshipping a human. I don't see this as any different that saying any other human is part of God or God. What do you mean that he is a transcended human form? Do you see other prophets that Christians and Jews believe in as being technically transcended human forms?

    that's after performing a supposed myriad of miracles that wouldn't be possible for your standard human.

    There were other prophets that Christians believe in that performed miracles but that they don't worship or consider God ie Moses, etc. Aren't miracles only able to be done with God's permission? The miracles are done by God's power, not by theirs.

    [–]Comatoast 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

    Christ is seen as an extension of God, as far as I understand it. He was born through immaculate conception by a virgin mother (who is also near-worshipped in some sects of Catholicism). Moses parted the sea, and there were a ton of other fantastical things that happened (I don't remember a LOT and I'm not Christian, so bear with me). He wasn't seen as the prophet and savior of all mankind though. Moses was still a savior in his own right, but it was Christ who was supposed to have the spark of the divine. Yeah, Abrahamics believe that we're all gods creations, but I think Christ was almost more of a demigod in his descriptions.

    And yeah, transcended human form. Became one with god or whatever as part of the holy trinity.

    I don't know, there's a whole lot of really interesting things within Abrahamic religions. I know that there's a lot of borrowing of information across all of them from pagan religions, and I think that some of that holds the keys to learning about those lost pagan civilizations in a roundabout way. If you think about King Solomon and his writings, you'll see the 72 kings, dukes, marquises and counts of hell. Then of course the others that were written about. I believe that there was conflation between those demons and gods of other cultures.

    [–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

    This isn't true about all Christians. The Catholics, Protestants, Anglicans, and others hold these views, while others, such as the Orthodox (both Greek and Russian, I believe) hold a similar view. And finally yet others, such as the Miaphysite, of which there are few left, hold that Christ is of a DUAL nature, that of man and god at the same time. This seems to most truthful approach to Christianity. If I believed, I would convert.

    [–]suckitreddit[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

    Ever read about the Olympic gods? Most of them embody the shittiest human actions concentrated.

    Yes, but they were a warning of what not to do. They were not persuading people to act wrong. They served as cautionary tales. So, though they did not follow in the footsteps of something like Christianity, they served a similar purpose. Just look at ancient Greeks. At the time, they were among the most advanced civilizations. Or do you deny this? They were ahead of everyone in terms of their laws, and philosophy, and general knowledge. So, this doesn't really disprove what I was saying. It's just a minor exception.

    [–]scrubking 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

    For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. (Joh 3:16-21)

    [–]Hazeypanda 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

    There is no point submitting to God without complete faith in God first and foremost. Submitting to God because of “modern leftism” is a piss poor reason. You submit to God out of love, faith, commitment and only by your own free will.

    Besides, whilst not as common, you can most definitely be a modern lefty and religious.

    [–]Hazeypanda 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

    Furthermore, a lot of historical development into “modern leftism” goes much deeper. The Protestant reformation effectively was the first stepping stone towards individuals creating their own separate interpretations of Christianity.

    [–]lesdyxic 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

    Religion was once good in the sense it created a shared common culture, and it's true that our world is becoming more factionalized over time which is a problem, but the solution to this is not a reinvestment in archaic systems of control and censorship. The age of religiosity was also the age of hypocrisy where a predatory and promiscuous homosexual priestly class began to usurp power from predatory and promiscuous heterosexual chieftains and kings. That's the sad fact of it. So now we're in a time of disruption where one thing is dying off and the next thing hasn't come but it seems to me we have to build a culture based on truth and honesty instead of assumed and unchallenged authority.

    [–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

    Socialism: You are repeating the Orwellian Newspeak, COMMUNIST PROPAGANDA definition of the word. The essential aspect of primordial socialism is absolutely pro-capitalism, and anti-communism. Socialism does not mean what you think it means, its definition has been altered to make you unable to think the whole spectrum of socioeconomic thought. Just imagine, you have Marxist, Leninist, and Communist already. Now you've been brainwashed into conflating socialism in with these, while the original socialists were libertarians and anarchists. And yes, nazis. All THOROUGHLY opposed to communism. But communism, yes that is a cult of the destruction of individuality. It is horrible to the utmost.

    Veganism: it's actually demonstrated, without possible doubt, that CARNIVORE is the healthiest diet for humans. No need for vitamin C supplements either. But you're right, it's a cult, and a good one: by eating only plants, IQ diminishes after a few weeks and people, having become dumber, are unable to figure out that WHAT THEY ARE EATING is the problem.

    I think all drugs should be legal. This enables universities performing actual serious RESEARCH on these substances, unclog the (for-profit, why???) prison system and legal system, and so on.

    Weed smokers: smoking weed is one of the worst things a human being can do to themselves: it makes them NOT WANT. When you don't WANT, you don't DO. Sure, you can go about your routine, but you won't ACCOMPLISH the same as you would without, guaranteed.

    Religion: you're right, without religion, cults and ideologies replace it. But religion is dogmatic, and the problem with the world today can be boiled down to people believing too easily. In order to cure the people of this, religion must be destroyed. Yes, God is behind the destruction of religion. All of it. What comes after, for those who will live through these tribulations, is an awakening, a true understanding of precisely why and how the Christian values are the highest possible moral state, and more. However, people will not MONKEY these values. They will understand scientifically why life is better with a behavior that fully and sincerely embraces these values.

    [–]plumedoomer 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

    "Well, I'm an atheist and I don't worship anything so you're wrong."

    I'm seeing that a lot here. They have a very narrow definition of "worship" - if not God, there is something else they obsess over, something or someone they hold as more valuable than anything else and that they would sacrifice anything for - money, "society," government, science, "love," themselves, etc.... But, even if we pretend that is not so;

    Most people do not function - they do not behave - without some belief in a higher power. When a society loses it, it goes insane and becomes dysfunctional. There are some people who are fine with out it, but most humans are incapable of being decent when they don't have it. They need something that makes them hold themselves accountable in private times, they need something that gives them hope when things aren't going their way, they need something to tell them "everything's gonna be alright," they need something to make them feel like they matter whether they do or not.

    If you don't believe in God, then some narrative that goes beyond the earthly world must be fed to those people in order to maintain societal peace and productivity. Otherwise, they'll just behave like animals and be insufferable. If you do believe in God, then you must spread this narrative to "save" these people and/or make the world a better place. Either way, some kind of god that is NOT man and that transcends the material world must be given to these people who don't function right without it in order to make the world livable.

    Like how some people need insulin to function properly; some people need religion to function properly. They don't produce enough intrinsic value on their own so they need to get it elsewhere.