Are you against religions and want them to be gone or just against the extreme ends of religion?

What do you think the world would look like or be like if everyone collectively strung away from religion?

I think this is one of five or six Asks you've submitted in the last couple weeks, Anon (you're the Australian of Lebanese heritage, right?).

Some Asks contain big questions which take significant time to answer properly - but this one is easy.

Am I against religions and want them to be gone?

No. I wouldn't want that even if I believed it was possible...and it isn't.

As an atheist, I do not believe in any anthropomorphic, sapient, interventionist Gods.

That's all the word means and that's all I mean when I say I'm an atheist.

That doesn't tell you anything at all about how I view religion.

Religion is soooooo much more interesting than most ex-Christians and ex-Muslims seem to realize. For example:

Some religions aren't really theistic.

Some religions have almost no metaphysics.

Some theistic religions don't leverage their theistic beliefs in violent or oppressive ways.

Metaphysics and theism aren't the parts of religions which I value.

I value many kinds of religious culture. Judaism, for example, is an ethnoreligion, a civilization, and a peoplehood as much as it is a faith. With or without belief in a deity, I value the texts, the history, the rituals, and the community. I see similar kinds of value in most religious traditions.

I have found that religious people who are intellectually honest (whether they are Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Zoroastrian, Hindu, Bahai, Sikh, or any other faith) are often some of the most thoughtful people I know. I judge people by how they behave, not by their metaphysics.

I judge religions by their effects, not their textual sources.

What do I think the world would look like if everyone collectively stepped away from religion?

I suspect it would look very similar to the world we have now...with different labels for our tribes.

When people abandon organized religion, Anon, they often still need an orthodoxy and/or orthopraxy to help them make sense of their lives. There are secular points of faith which serve the same purpose as religion for many people who find religion distasteful.

Examples include (but are not limited to):

Communism - Explicitly tried to replace religion and replicated nearly every function: sacred texts from infallible prophets (Marx, Lenin), orthodoxy/heresy, confession (self-criticism sessions), and eschatology (the withering away of the state).

Nationalism and political tribalism - Even in religious societies, national identity often competes with or supersedes religious identity, complete with sacred founding myths, martyrs, pilgrimages (to memorials), and rituals (pledges, anthems). Beyond nationalism, some people's entire social circles, consumption habits, moral frameworks, and daily practices revolve around their political identity, complete with heresy (being "canceled" by your own side), confession (public apologies), and sacred/profane distinctions.

Consumer capitalism and lifestyle brands - People finding identity, community, and meaning through consumption and brand loyalty (Apple devotees, CrossFit culture, fandoms, etc.).

Like religions, these provide:

A framework for understanding the world

Moral certainty and right belief (orthodoxy)

Prescribed behaviors and rituals (orthopraxy)

In-group/out-group boundaries (Community and belonging)

Answers to existential questions, ways of creating meaning, purpose, and belonging

Religion is just one category of ideology which can be abused to hurt people.

People don't need relgiion to embrace dogma, purity tests, and tribal belonging, they just need to be human. Most people who claim to loathe religion don't become rationalists, they just turn their politics, social justice movements, or even their fandoms into secular 'religions.' Some modern political movements (like the far-left antizionist movement or MAGA) function exactly like cults.

Maybe the problem isn't religion, but fundamentalism, authoritarianism, and the human tendency to seek certainty and belonging at the expense of critical thinking and compassion.

Self-described Atheists who dream of an idealized society which embraces scientism or communism in place of religions and thereby becomes a technotopia or workers paradise are going way beyond atheism and into their own irrational eschatologies...which makes them resemble a religion.

If we removed religion, humans would just fill that void with new ideologies that demand the same unthinking obedience and offer the same dangerous sense of righteousness.

So I focus on promoting ideologies which value humility, integrity, generosity, collaboration, pluralism, constructive disagreement, and peace...and I try to point out the problems and dangers of ideologies which don't share these values.

What I am against is fundamentalism and the weaponization of faith.

I oppose Kahanists, Islamists, and Christian Nationalists. I believe almost every flavor of fundamentalism is regressive and harmful. I am against religion when it is used to enforce conformity, justify violence, or strip people of their rights...but I am not against the existence of religion itself, and my lack of faith doesn't incline me to feel hostility for people just because they have a faith or hold metaphysical beliefs I don't share.

Satanic rituals & symbolism

Satanic rituals and symbolism can vary depending on the specific branch or individual's beliefs within Satanism.

Here is some general information about common elements found in Satanic rituals and symbolism:

-Rituals

Satanic rituals are often performed as a means of personal expression, self-transformation, and psychological empowerment rather than as acts of literal worship.

These rituals may involve the following elements:

-Altar

A central focal point where various symbolic objects are placed.

The altar can represent the practitioner's connection to their personal beliefs or philosophy.

-Candles

Candles are commonly used to create a ceremonial atmosphere and represent illumination, enlightenment, or specific intentions.

-Invocations

Satanic rituals may include invocations, which are spoken or written requests or affirmations addressed to certain symbolic entities or forces.

These invocations may aim to align the practitioner with specific energies or personal goals.

-Symbolic Gestures

Certain symbolic gestures or movements may be --performed during rituals to reinforce intentions, evoke specific energies, or create a desired psychological or emotional state.

-Symbolism

Satanic symbolism often incorporates a range of esoteric and occult symbols.

Here are some commonly used symbols within Satanic practices:

-Inverted Pentagram

The inverted pentagram, with the point facing downward, is a widely recognized symbol in Satanism.

It is often associated with rebellion, the rejection of conventional morality, and the embracing of personal freedom.

-Baphomet

-The Baphomet is a symbol depicting a winged humanoid figure with a goat's head.

It is often associated with Satanism and represents duality, wisdom, and the union of opposites.

-The Baphomet is sometimes used as a representation of Satanic principles or as a focal point during rituals.

-Sigil of Baphomet

The Sigil of Baphomet is a specific symbol that consists of an inverted pentagram with additional elements, such as the Hebrew letters for "Leviathan" and "Lucifer" It is widely recognized as a symbol of Satanism and is often used to represent Satanic ideals and beliefs.

-Black Mass

The Black Mass is a ritual that mocks or parodies the Catholic Mass.

It is a controversial and provocative practice that may involve the inversion of traditional religious symbols, blasphemy, or other acts intended to challenge religious norms and conventions.

It is important to note that while Satanic rituals and symbolism may appear dark or sinister to some, they are often used as symbolic expressions of personal beliefs, philosophies, or as forms of self expression.

-Most Satanists do not engage in harmful or criminal activities and instead focus on personal empowerment, individualism, and the rejection of societal norms.

Please remember that my explanations are intended for informational purposes only, and it is essential to respect the diverse beliefs and practices within Satanism.

Ψ الْأَبْوَاب الجهنمية Ψ& السحر الأسود

@abn-iiblis-666

WhatsApp: +2011 14948439

Disclaimer: I'm not an anarcho-communist, this is an outside view on the ideology. I tried to be as neutral as possible but biases are always included in our works in some way.

This is a basic website I coded entirely by hand in HTML that is a brief and simple overview of anarcho-communism. I made it as a project for school (which I wildly overestimated the amount of effort needed for it) but I wanted other people to get a use out of it. All the sources are cited. Some parts might look strange regarding what I mention (such as the opinions section), these are just parts I needed to include for the grade. Would love some feedback if anybody wants to provide it, I'm open to changing it since it's been graded already!

"The past is history, the future is a mystery, but today is a gift, that's why it is called the present"

- Karl Marx