Oh, I agree completely. I just think calling it a delusion doesn't quite describe it accurately, though. It's far more insidious than just a delusion. It's exactly as you said, it's brainwashing, and many people who may be considering rejecting their religions don't, simply for fear of reprisal from the invisible abusive father-figure that they've always been told exists. It's a culture of fear, repression and anti-intellectualism, really, and that's far worse than a simple delusion. They try to teach their children not to question things. Not to be curious about the nature of things, and how they work.Darth Wong wrote:The effects of brainwashing and herd mentality are hard to break, but I see no reason why that should mean people should refrain from openly mocking the brainwashing structure in question. Now that we've finally achieved a level of social development where it is possible to do so without being imprisoned or killed, I say we should go full bore on it. People are surrounded by an environment of ubiquitous religious apologism, where literally everyone they meet tends to make excuses for religion, and if they criticize it, the only do so in the most beneficial terms.
People need the occasional cold splash of water; they need to occasionally run into someone who doesn't humour their bullshit at all, and calls a spade a spade. It's not as if they don't already get enough coddling from 99% of the people in their lives; why should the last 1% hold their tongues? To make the immersion complete?
Feh, just thinking about it is sickening.
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- PeZook