Inspired by some of the discussion in this thread. I don't think it's appropriate place for that discussion there, but hey why not have a separate thread for it
If I think religion is not good in general, am I Reddit and cringe and basically Richard Dawkins?
Reddit atheism: cringe
"Regular old atheism:" based, especially if you're referring to the Marxist takes on it
I've always called myself an atheist and even an antitheist, but the fedora tippers in that thread definitely made me go, "Yikes."
I would never judge a Muslim comrade for their religion specifically. Hell, I don't even judge Catholics for being Catholic, and growing up in that religion made me especially feel sour about it. I often feel like saying something whenever I interact with someone who is openly Catholic, but I am able to keep it contained. That trauma will hit deep enough that it will hurt to some degree for me to not say anything, but I acknowledge the existence of based Catholics.
Of course, I acknowledge the material conditions that give rise to one believing in a religion, and so long as no one is tying said religion to harmful beliefs and practices, I have nothing bad to say about them as a religious individual.
Religion as an institution, on the other hand...
Having grown up Southern Baptist, I have a lot less judgment for Catholics than Protestants.
At least the Catholic Church has like, an authority structure that gives it a sense of legitimacy, and acknowledgement that the Bible is not an infallible document written by God and is a collection of accounts and fictional parables by different people over a long time. I think those explanations would have done a lot to keep me in the church.
Protestantism it’s like, why do you believe this, because Pastor Bill said it? Have you talked to Pastor Bill before? He’s an idiot, why would you believe what he says. I remember being 7 years old and going to Sunday school and they talked about Noah’s Ark and we were told it was a completely factual account, and the writing was divinely inspired and therefore could not be wrong, and at 7 years old I was like “Idk man this seems like nonsense. How would the lions not eat the zebras? The logistics don’t make sense.”
The more I learn about ancient Christianity and the way these stories and practices have changed over the centuries it’s so much more interesting and believable with the context and analysis than whatever the fuck evangelicals are doing.
I feel this one, and it strongly reminds me of a Pastor Bill I know who is getting divorced right now and it really makes a person look distinctly fallible. Dude your life is imploding, the kids are all siding with your wife, why would I listen to you about the Trinity?
Making priests volcels is probably good for keeping them authority figures.
"We're so glad that Pastor Bill heard directly from God that his beliefs are the correctest ones!"