#cheersquad

oh my cheersquad

and their pets (names undecided)

Let’s start off by taking a moment to acknowledge that this is first and foremost an ad-hominem.

https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/ad-hominem

If thinking humanity should only validate and endorse ideas that are well substantiated and demonstrably true, discarding ideas that are harmful and don’t even reflect reality is “shallow,” then I guess I’m “shallow.” If identifying fallacious reasoning, pointing out mistakes in logic, and explaining how we form justified conclusions is “shallow,” then I guess I’m “shallow.” If being a “cheer-squad of one” for the virtues of humanity outside the lens of imaginary sky monsters, prioritizing human qualities over the recognition of creatures that can’t be demonstrated to even exist is “shallow,” then I guess I’m “shallow.”

I can completely live with that.

But it doesn’t address any of my points. I don’t really care whether you regard me as being “shallow and edgy.” I don’t even know you, so why would I? It’s just a way for you to ignore what I’m saying - or worse, misrepresent it - and still feel like you hold the upper hand.

By the way, weren’t most of history’s prophets “edgy”? Didn’t they come to disrupt the status quo and usher in a new age of enlightenment and understanding, despite anyone’s discomfort? Haven’t most of history’s dramatic changes come at the behest of someone who is “edgy”?

I don’t care about Xtianity being less “hegemonic” - I care about whether it’s even true. The same way I don’t care about any god’s opinion of me until someone can demonstrate it even exists. Why we should entertain these superstitions at all - never mind the degree - any more than you entertain Hellenism or Mayan myths?

Are you concerned about the “worst possible” Flat Earthers, and reducing Flat Earther hegemony? Does it matter to you whether the flerfer thinks Earth is a flat disk or a cylinder? Do you fixate on whether they think our system is geocentric or heliocentric? Or do you deal with it on the basis of whether the common, shared foundational principle of “the Earth is flat,” the thing that inextricably connects them, can even be demonstrated to be true? And why should we entertain any of these versions of the same idea if they can’t?

I don’t believe I’ve focussed on any particular version of Xtianity at all. The bible does say that slavery is acceptable. It does say that certain people should be stoned (in the bad way, not the good way). It does give nonsense explanations for the world around us; explanations we know to be wrong. it does contradict itself. It does say that “god” killed many, many people. It does say lots and lots of horrible things that Xtians are statistically more than likely unaware of. This is unavoidable. And it’s something biblical scholars for centuries have struggled with. The problem isn’t me pointing it out, it’s that the source of these beliefs is gross, unreliable, inconsistent and man-made.

I’ve taken great pains to be very clear about my position outside of not just Xtianity…

https://religion-is-a-mental-illness.tumblr.com/post/180200447127

https://religion-is-a-mental-illness.tumblr.com/post/177232121982

but outside of religion in general.

https://religion-is-a-mental-illness.tumblr.com/tagged/skepticism

https://religion-is-a-mental-illness.tumblr.com/tagged/spiritual-not-religious

Here are my asks and my text posts (which includes both reblogs and original text posts). Why not actually read my views and my rants position instead of attacking a strawman version?

https://religion-is-a-mental-illness.tumblr.com/archive/filter-by/ask

https://religion-is-a-mental-illness.tumblr.com/archive/filter-by/text

You’ll note one remarkable thing about all of them: there is very little Xtian-specific content in them; “worst possible” or otherwise. Which you’ll note also applies to this very post you’re reading right now, responding to your Ask.

I’ve said it time and time again…

https://religion-is-a-mental-illness.tumblr.com/post/181268222472

to the point of boring myself [..]

Why you believe something is more important than what you believe.

https://religion-is-a-mental-illness.tumblr.com/post/184004931692:

Why is always more important than what, because why allows us to identify errors, correct them, and form better ideas and beliefs.

I’ve said it again and again 100 different ways.

https://religion-is-a-mental-illness.tumblr.com/post/181895656852

EDIT: Another: https://religion-is-a-mental-illness.tumblr.com/post/180204654982

My message is quite simple: that irrational, unsubstantiated belief in magic and creatures that can’t be demonstrated to exist is unreasonable. No matter which version of which theological family. That indoctrinating vulnerable children into believing and fearing these baseless ideas - until you can actually demonstrate them to be true, and such fear is warranted - is unjustified.

If you have a problem with this, then perhaps it’s time to consider why you don’t like it. Why you find it unreasonable that things should be able to be demonstrated to be true before asserting that they are. Especially since you’ve already dismissed all versions of other belief systems other than your own (Judaism) as unbelievable anyway. You know, being n-1 as “edgy” (LOL) as me.

Fixating on people who simply don’t believe is missing the mark. It’s ignoring the inability to demonstrate that thousands of these ideas (and thousands of versions of them) reflect reality in any way. And personally, I’d rather live in reality.

The Most Popular Girls in School

`Firstly, you say that as if getting angry about something was a negative thing. I get angry about child rape by pedophile priests. I don’t see that as being the wrong reaction. Do you?

Secondly, what you’re choosing to interpret as anger - with the subtle implication of some sort of unreasonableness - is actually adamancy. I’m not going to mince words when it comes to talking about the effect of unsubstantiated superstitions on society and the world around us. While religions many have come to expect deference and reverence, even from non-believers, they were never entitled to it. Religion is a claim. Like Flat Earth, the existence of Bigfoot, or whether it was Bill Paxton or Bill Pullman in “Independence Day” (it was Pullman), I will analyse, critique or even mock it, as I would any claim.

Thirdly, and astonishingly, you seem to be finding fault in my belief that humanity is worthwhile and capable in its own right, rather than only through the lens of an undetectable ghost in the sky. That we’re capable of helping each other without needing an ill-defined, invisible, intangible, undetectable, unmeasurable “spiritual influence” - whatever the hell that even means - to provide hope, help and support. You seem baffled that I’m pro-humanity.

“What’s the harm,” eh? I have a tag for exactly that.

https://religion-is-a-mental-illness.tumblr.com/tagged/what%27s-the-harm

A list of people who have died because of superstitions like religion… a site literally called “What’s the Harm?”:

http://whatstheharm.net

A list of atrocities committed in the name of Islam (you did say “religion”, so):

https://www.thereligionofpeace.com

Victims of religion, including faith healing and exorcisms:

https://plus.google.com/collection/MCl9FB

https://religion-is-a-mental-illness.tumblr.com/tagged/victims-of-religion

Places with a religious exemption to child abuse:

https://religion-is-a-mental-illness.tumblr.com/image/171873187584

Scientific illiteracy in the US:

https://religion-is-a-mental-illness.tumblr.com/image/167240566068

Misinforming children with the factless myth of “creation”:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-states-texas-creationism-science-teacher-state-law-evolution-religion-a7632931.html

http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2014/01/creationism_in_public_schools_mapped_where_tax_money_supports_alternatives.html

Intercessory prayer is ineffective (duh) and no better than chance. It can actually encourage believers to cease or reduce proper medical treatment, making it worse than chance.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16569567

Child rape by Catholic priests:

In Pennsylvania: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/how-catholic-churches-in-pennsylvania-hid-decades-of-abuse

In Germany: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/german-report-documents-more-than-3600-abuse-cases-within-the-catholic-church/2018/09/24/a61b2b42-bffe-11e8-9f4f-a1b7af255aa5_story.html?noredirect=on

In Chile: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-church-abuse-chile/chilean-court-orders-catholic-church-to-pay-damages-over-abuse-report-idUSKCN1MV0SP

13 year old child bride dies four days after wedding:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1264729/Child-bride-13-dies-internal-injuries-days-arranged-marriage-Yemen.html

Muslim attacks on homosexuals in Berlin:

https://www.jihadwatch.org/2018/10/berlin-nearly-all-attacks-on-gays-committed-by-migrant-background-men

Brainwashing:

http://www.xenu.net/roland-intro.html

13 countries where you can be killed for being an atheist:

https://www.indy100.com/article/a-map-of-countries-where-you-can-be-killed-for-being-an-atheist–ZyV9wcJobzZ

States where atheists are legally barred from holding office (default assumption of religiosity):

https://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/entry/atheists-discrimination_n_4413593

I could make this reply 10 times longer with even more examples, but I think you get the point.

People can believe whatever crazy thing they want - within the confines of their own private brain.

But that’s not how things work, is it? If it was, you wouldn’t see Christians trying to force their religion onto others at the government level. You wouldn’t see the religious harass people for seeking reproductive care - while secretly and hypocritically getting abortions themselves. You wouldn’t see Muslim rape gangs in Europe.

People can believe any stupid myth they want, but they don’t get to shape the world around them, including indoctrinating children too young, vulnerable and impressionable to assess the claims being presented to them by people they trust, based on myths and superstitions they can’t substantiate.

Religion uniquely justifies all sorts of bigotry, hate and violence in the name of satisfying invisible, intangible gods. The delusional, schizophrenic Abraham proved exactly that himself, right there in the bible:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binding_of_Isaac

Religion does help some people. It helps the in-crowd, to the exclusion and frequently detriment of the out-crowd. Go see the homeless sit through a sermon to get their soup or sandwich. Bring up atheists at your next religious function and watch what happens, I dare you.

It helps people escape from their problems by applying myths and superstitions over the top. Things not going your way? Oh, a magical elf in the sky is testing your karma, therefore the right thing to do is telepathically send a spell to the elf so he’ll know you’re special and maybe he’ll grant you extra karma points. Also known as prayer.

No. Things aren’t going your way because the world is complicated, and there is randomness and entropy. The best thing to do is understand the actual nature of the world, to pursue information and knowledge which will help you make good choices in the things you can control, take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves, and understand the nature of the things you can’t control.

Wrapping yourself up in fairytales, both pretty and vile, is a crutch, an escape. It doesn’t actually address them. And it completely devalues humanity and the human condition, the experiences throughout the one and only life we know actually exists, placing make-believe sky elves as superior to us, and clamouring to earn a place with them, instead of doing good in this world for its own good. Basically, you’ve given up on humanity and are looking for magic to fix you.

And it’s all done in the name of entities whose basic existence has never been, and cannot, be demonstrated.

If the only way for someone to have hope is to delude themselves, then they have bigger issues than me pointing out the flaws in religious reasoning.

The human species is better than these angry, immoral “god” characters. We’re more moral, more compassionate, more reasonable, more empathetic. And we’re real. We never did need myths and ghosts. We are the solution to our problems, not imaginary sky monsters.

Name one demonstrably good thing that can only - or even simply best - be achieved via religion that cannot be achieved secularly.