The Most Depressing Thing You've Ever Done

[bluestarultor]

You know, it's pretty sad. Most people in the US have a religion of some sort. In fact, a quick look at Wikipedia says some 80+% of people here are Christians of some sort. It's easy to forget that so many normal people are religious when all you ever hear about are the nutjobs.

[Funka Genocide]

People are religious by default. Very few actually make the leap of breaking all ties with their religious upbringing. Even though their lifestyles and habits are in no way keeping with the tenets of their religion they still claim to be of that religion.

Most likely because the alternative is to face the scorn and derision of your parents and loved ones. Sure you're an alcoholic who abuses their children and spouse, but hell at least you still love Jesus.

[Nique]

You're destroying evolutions plan! You'll ruin itfor all of us.

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waaaaaaait a second...

Seems that people will use any stupid excuse to hate any stupid thing nowadays, and its made religion more of a funnel for people who need a divine reason to hate blacks/gays/jews/violent video games than a legitimate philosophy

It can be confusing to accept the legitimacy of some issues without also feeling like you are accepting certain values that might appear to be related. Gay marriage laws are actually a good example of this. I mean, thinking gay marriage should be allowed isn't the same thing as accepting homosexuality as a 'moral' practice, if it is your belife that it is not. These are in reality two seperate issues that are easy to confuse, and that confusion is, frankly, easy to manipulate.

Now say hello to fringe American right!

[Funka Genocide]

Yes, because the "good" Christians are perfectly ok with your abhorrent lifestyle choices that will inevitably lead you to damnation because... well there'll be more room in heaven I guess.

[Torque]

Originally Posted by Funka Genocide

People are religious by default.

I don't know as I would say that.... Church always made me feel uncomfortable when I was but a lad. And the lords prayer in elementary school just seemed weird to me.
When I got tricked into going to sunday school (I was told there would be crafts, and games, and fun! but no mention of god anywhere in the promotional material) I was quite uncomfortable and felt very out of my element, and actually sort of unwelcome. It's ALWAYS been that way for me.
To add perspective to that little story I am, and believe I always have been an atheist, despite growing up in an open minded household

edit: crap, that was a little bit off-topic.
when I realized it would just be SO much simpler to just get rid of my specialty sports car due to all the legal hassles of owning a Right-hand drive vehicles right now I was pretty sad. I love that car. But I'm selling it. Screw it!

[Professor Smarmiarty]

Originally Posted by Nique

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waaaaaaait a second...

My secret agenda is revealed! Oh no!

[Karrrrrrrrrrrresche]

Originally Posted by Funka Genocide

People are religious by default. Very few actually make the leap of breaking all ties with their religious upbringing. Even though their lifestyles and habits are in no way keeping with the tenets of their religion they still claim to be of that religion.

Most likely because the alternative is to face the scorn and derision of your parents and loved ones. Sure you're an alcoholic who abuses their children and spouse, but hell at least you still love Jesus.

Not my house.

In a way I actually ended up more religious than my parents. They're both atheist, I'm a deist.

[Funka Genocide]

People are religious by default because their parents make it a point to engender religious sentiments and doctrine in their upbringing. If you lacked that particular concerted effort in your upbringing then its no wonder you wouldn't feel inclined to be religious.

Like my parents were your average "yeah I'm a Christian" types. They didn't really go much deeper than that pretty basic admission. My mom eventually got crazied up with the Jehova's Witnesses, but by that point I'd come to the logical conclusion that it was all a bunch of nonsense.

If your parents shove a particular religion down your throat from day one and everyone you interact with shares the same basic beliefs, you're not going to question it until its too late and you're hopelessly inured of the system.

(Well ok maybe you would, but then you'd be the exception and not the rule.)

[Torque]

Originally Posted by Funka Genocide

If your parents shove a particular religion down your throat from day one and everyone you interact with shares the same basic beliefs, you're not going to question it until its too late and you're hopelessly inured of the system.

Not 100% accurate there though, either. My mother was/is hardcore wiccan by the time I was a teenager. If anything I grew to loathe religion MORE after that.
You want a fruit bat religion? Wicca. Seriously, that shit is ridiculous. I LOL harder at Wicca than I do Christianity, or Scientology.

[Funka Genocide]

Just because you guys are special and unique snowflakes doesn't change that 80% statistic that someone was throwing around. The plural of anecdote isn't data etc. etc.