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The Internet - Religion Killer

http://www.salon.com/2013/01/16/religion_may_not_survive_the_internet/

i know it's been often discussed, but this article is worth the read. Atheists lose their faith in a variety of ways. 20+ years ago the path to enlightenment was, well, darker. thoughtful and nimble minds were only able to swallow religious mantra for so long before vomiting it back up. but much of that ability depended on just how religious your parents were. should you have found yourself in a fundy household, it's likely that the pressure and indoctrination you experienced were just too much to break away from. resources were limited. like-minded people were too scarce. information was too elusive.

no longer. the internet has aided and abetted countless freethinkers to break free. and it's only going to get better. i'm so very pleased that many more people are able to leave their dusty old religions behind. thank you, internet.

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Permalink Reply by booklover on January 17, 2013 at 9:22am

Glad to get some hopeful news for a change!

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Permalink Reply by michele ricketts on January 18, 2013 at 12:31am

Not the case in the States but in Europe they actually are intimidated and being intimidated by fundamentalists shit-stirring when a mere cartoon of Allah is drawn etc.... I find that kind of intimidation shocking that it actually works on any -satirist-comedy-writer/artist if they are not annonymous. Even you-tube censors this stuff like kiddie-porn.
What we need are malicious hackers be malicious for the sake of cultural freedom in Europe. The protests would never keep pace with the germs. Understandably governments couldn't be blamed. What IS this paranoiac frisson they succeed in generating over there. ?This is the darker side of the internet- it's not P.C. either when it wants to.

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Permalink Reply by michele ricketts on January 30, 2013 at 12:26pm

Yikes i posted this on the wrong discussion sorry

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Permalink Reply by Alan Perlman on January 20, 2013 at 4:15pm

This is an important first step. The Internet enables us to spread information and build communities rapidly. But things will not really change in this most religious of countries until we really have separation of church and state, which can be achieved only through political power. That means a sizable number of openly secular politicians who will work, at local, state and national levels, to remove religion's special privileges, including government handouts and immunity from criticism and taxation.

Dalai Lama's wisdom is not original but worth noting.

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Permalink Reply by Greg on January 30, 2013 at 11:25am

Agree completely Alan. As much as we might like to see agreement and bi-partisan cooperation, one must understand how things are gotten done. To paraphrase, power is taken, not given. It must be built up by likeminded persons who recognize their common goals. As voters, it is our job to identify those with goals we feel strongly enough to support. We must have the wisdom to pick our battles carefully.

That there might be an explicit direction of separation of church and state in the constitution is irrelevant. It is enought that we see the value of this separation and press to make it fact. I believe it to be good for believers and non-believers alike.

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Permalink Reply by Alan Perlman on January 31, 2013 at 3:32pm

Thanks for the reply. The vast chasm between us and believers is in your last sentence. No truly religious Christian or Muslim would agree. It is VERY IMPORTANT that there be a connection between govt. and God, and that it constantly be reinforced. They do not think it's good to separate church and state. In fact, the closer, the better.

I think the 1st Amendment didn't go far enough: not only should there be no state religion...but the govt. should not behave as if there is a state religion -- or any religion, really, as opposed to, e.g., the Inauguration hoopla, which called on God at every turn. No politician has the courage to depart from this, to be openly secular. He/she wouldn't be elected. Not to mention the death threats.

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Permalink Reply by amer chohan on January 30, 2013 at 12:15pm

Natural evolution of an idea is a slow process, it is sometimes frustrating too. But Myths can't survive in the face of todays knowledge. They are bound to die.

Yes, internet has accelerated the process of death of religon not in one but in many ways.