Comment on Are we deprogramming empathy in the US?
iltoroargento@lemmy.sdf.org 1 day agoReplacing godheads and debating minute dogmatic differences between colonizer/authoritarian religions is not going to change things for the better. We’ve been doing that for millennia.
Emphasizing historical learning and perspectives from the breadth of the world as well as modern civic humanist principles in our communities sounds a lot more effective to me than replacing one fictitious narcissistic sky daddy with another. Go peddle your ancient brainrot elsewhere.
ArgumentativeMonotheist@lemmy.world 1 day ago
I really don’t think “we” have, certainly the West hasn’t (with even the term “sky daddy” showing the clear anthropomorphic nature of God in the Western man’s mind, because amoral paganism never left it was just superficially transformed…). The vast majority of people won’t hold themselves accountable when the pleasures of this world are too enticing if they don’t feel like they’ll be unavoidably held accountable by a higher power. With discernment, integrity, selflessness and a clear heart it’s possible to do so to a certain/great extent, but these traits are secondary in the West, where overpowering violence, trickery and the capacity to acquire goods and satisfy yourself are paramount. But whatever, I guess we’ll see.
Doomsider@lemmy.world 1 day ago
I personally think people who do things because they fear retribution from sky daddy are the weakest of minds easily exploited by propaganda. Religious thought lead to malleable minds easily exploitable by religious leaders.
Religion is not the source of our social bounds and morality rather a parasite of control left over from ancient times. A vestigial organ that no longer has a use in the face of science but lives on in the body regardless.
prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 21 hours ago
I would say all magical thinking does this. This is why I say that things like astrology and homeopathy are not “harmless” but are rather actively harming the fabric of society by being accepted.
aesthelete@lemmy.world 1 day ago
Not the person you’re replying to, but I’m am atheist or an agnostic and even I’m not so sure about that.
When given the idea that there is no retribution or reprocussion for their actions, many people become nihilistic and act terribly.
I agree that it’s weak to need a “sky daddy” to act properly, but many people are weak.
prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 21 hours ago
This is what you call a sociopath. If you need fear of retribution in order to not do awful things, then you’re just a piece of shit.
Doomsider@lemmy.world 1 day ago
There is good scientific evidence that people do not think about the consequences of their actions before they commit to them.
Criminals don’t think of the punishment they will receive by society but suddenly a far removed sky daddy will convince them not to rob a store? This is not how any of this works.
Morality is developed by our social bounds, otherwise every agnostic or atheist would be wildly our of control.
People are mentally weak because of religion, not despite it. It is the antithesis to critical thinking. The lack of critical thought is why our society is so easy to control.
I have seen this play out countless times in my life where people realize how fucked up their religion was once they have left it.
As their eyes open and they realize that they were being controlled by their religious leaders who abused them, they have to wrestle with the life that was stolen from them.
I am even to the point now where I no longer believe certain people need religion anymore. They need community and a sense of belonging and religious leaders like to highjack that basic need for their own selfish interests.