Comments on: The End of Hereditary Religion http://www.anatheist.net/2009/02/the-end-of-hereditary-religion/ Atheism & Religious Skepticism Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:54:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: anti-supernaturalist http://www.anatheist.net/2009/02/the-end-of-hereditary-religion/comment-page-1/#comment-2431 anti-supernaturalist Sun, 08 Feb 2009 18:20:45 +0000 http://www.anatheist.net/?p=1381#comment-2431 ** fostering ignorance . . . it’s the logic of (moneyed) despotism ** There are nations like Sweden and Japan where the dominant culture is secular. Among rich (so-called developed) nations, the US is strongly out of synch in having a high percentage of persons willing to self-identify as religious. Most of these are xians. (Site to see: Pew Forum on Religion and Society.) Otherwise intelligent people, including those who have risen to powerful positions in government, military, media, public education and business are apt themselves to be xian or support xian viewpoints. The main exception is scientists who are overwhelmingly non-religious. Most persons in what I call “Ameristan” simply end up being born into households which are at least nominally xian. Upbringing, with its combination of indoctrination and punishment, induces beliefs without any reasoning being applied. (Islam in Pakistan, Hinduism in India, Buddhism in Thailand, atheism in China are no different in kind.) The typical American enters life disadvantaged, hobbled by irrational beliefs. Xianity extends brainwashed childhood and adolescence into adulthood, even to the grave. Removing irrational ideas implanted early in life, continually reinforced by the dominant culture, demands luck as well as pluck. The ignorant are easier to control. Irrationality reigns because it has money and power behind it. Power has its own logic. The permanent possession of ever more power. anti-supernaturalist ©2009 ** fostering ignorance . . . it’s the logic of (moneyed) despotism **

There are nations like Sweden and Japan where the dominant culture is secular.

Among rich (so-called developed) nations, the US is strongly out of synch in having a high percentage of persons willing to self-identify as religious. Most of these are xians. (Site to see: Pew Forum on Religion and Society.)

Otherwise intelligent people, including those who have risen to powerful positions in government, military, media, public education and business are apt themselves to be xian or support xian viewpoints. The main exception is scientists who are overwhelmingly non-religious.

Most persons in what I call “Ameristan” simply end up being born into households which are at least nominally xian. Upbringing, with its combination of indoctrination and punishment, induces beliefs without any reasoning being applied. (Islam in Pakistan, Hinduism in India, Buddhism in Thailand, atheism in China are no different in kind.)

The typical American enters life disadvantaged, hobbled by irrational beliefs. Xianity extends brainwashed childhood and adolescence into adulthood, even to the grave. Removing irrational ideas implanted early in life, continually reinforced by the dominant culture, demands luck as well as pluck.

The ignorant are easier to control. Irrationality reigns because it has money and power behind it. Power has its own logic. The permanent possession of ever more power.

anti-supernaturalist ©2009

]]> By: Richard Collins http://www.anatheist.net/2009/02/the-end-of-hereditary-religion/comment-page-1/#comment-2401 Richard Collins Sat, 07 Feb 2009 04:28:53 +0000 http://www.anatheist.net/?p=1381#comment-2401 Well thanks to James initiative we are up and running on our new website. Although we have had a presence on Facebook for nearly a year this new site will greatly broaden our potential audience of readers and contributors. We anticipate interest will be high because of the controversial nature of our initiative, but based on our experience talking to parents we feel this is a conversation that has to start. The religious indoctrination of children is so ingrained in our culture that it will no doubt take several generations to stop or modify the practice. Well thanks to James initiative we are up and running on our new website. Although we have had a presence on Facebook for nearly a year this new site will greatly broaden our potential audience of readers and contributors. We anticipate interest will be high because of the controversial nature of our initiative, but based on our experience talking to parents we feel this is a conversation that has to start. The religious indoctrination of children is so ingrained in our culture that it will no doubt take several generations to stop or modify the practice.

]]> By: James Tracy http://www.anatheist.net/2009/02/the-end-of-hereditary-religion/comment-page-1/#comment-2397 James Tracy Sat, 07 Feb 2009 00:25:40 +0000 http://www.anatheist.net/?p=1381#comment-2397 Thanks for your excellent comments. It really is difficult for somebody who did not grow up in that kind of situation to understand how powerful those social pressures really are. Just read your post and thought it was great - the idea that a close reading of the Bible can lead to rejecting it. I have always thought that it should, given what's actually in there... Thanks for your excellent comments. It really is difficult for somebody who did not grow up in that kind of situation to understand how powerful those social pressures really are.

Just read your post and thought it was great – the idea that a close reading of the Bible can lead to rejecting it. I have always thought that it should, given what's actually in there…

]]> By: theBEattitude http://www.anatheist.net/2009/02/the-end-of-hereditary-religion/comment-page-1/#comment-2393 theBEattitude Fri, 06 Feb 2009 18:36:03 +0000 http://www.anatheist.net/?p=1381#comment-2393 I posted on something similar a few days ago on my blog. I had both hereditary religion and the confusing King James Bible to help keep me from waking up from the brainwash. It took me over 30 years. When you are raised from birth into a belief system, it gives you the illusion of a solid foundation. When this foundation is based in fear and guilt, it does a pretty good job of keeping people from questioning anything. Outside of heredity, fear of being ostracized by friends and family also keeps people from walking away from Christianity. Most of my friends and my entire family are still christian, including my wife. It is not an easy or popular decision. I posted on something similar a few days ago on my blog. I had both hereditary religion and the confusing King James Bible to help keep me from waking up from the brainwash. It took me over 30 years. When you are raised from birth into a belief system, it gives you the illusion of a solid foundation. When this foundation is based in fear and guilt, it does a pretty good job of keeping people from questioning anything.

Outside of heredity, fear of being ostracized by friends and family also keeps people from walking away from Christianity. Most of my friends and my entire family are still christian, including my wife. It is not an easy or popular decision.

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