Excellently written, and I agree deeply with the conclusion. Sometimes certain major religions make me so mad that it’s hard to see the forest for the trees, but I know what you say is correct, as I’ve read similar ideas on belief and its connection with social connections. Zizek for example has written a great deal on belief and how its important/shapes us/we all experience it.
Also, secondarily, I guess “Not All Religions.” Every religion is imperfect, but not all of them are rooted in fear of death and promises of eternal life. Hinduism and Buddhism for example are complex religions of their own that don’t come in the Abrahamic Religion Package.
However…
The specifics of christianity are a problem, but none of this is really unique to it. We should probably be spending more effort dismantling hate groups and such, though. And maybe building groups that aren’t centered on hate and xenophobia.
I agree with all of these, but how do we even address that the religions that do specifically have a problem are some of the most widely believed religions on the planet? I know we need to be dismantling hate groups, but how do we dismantle those ones, because I hate to say it, their history is where a large part of the cycle of abuse in human society comes from. These specific religions do teach things like Christianity’s “turn the other cheek” that demand submissiveness from their members. I really do think those major religions are the root of abusive behavior because it’s so ingrained in the religions and these religions have so much history. It literally impacts the majority of the world.
It’s really hard, because like… I know a fella in Jordan who, when he lived in the US, admitted to me he thought he might be atheist. Eventually, he went back home to Jordan. I think about when he said that, a lot. It’s literally a dangerous thing for him to admit in Jordan. It’s not like they will kill him or anything, but he could lose his job, certain types of property, be divorced from his wife by the state, be denied any and all inheritances, and custody of his children. That’s the government saying to all the citizens of Jordan that they’ll try to ruin your life if you admit atheism. What a way to kill all doubt in a believers mind, eh?
I appreciate this perspective, but it feels like not even treading water when we’re talking about dismantling hate groups, as if some religious institutions aren’t purpose-built to facilitate becoming hate groups.