You sure you want to hear this? Part II of II
[continued from Part I ]
"Cognitive dissonance" is a requirement for genuine unquestioning belief based upon "faith", ... and cognitively dissonant, "un-reason-able" people are hopeless in any situation where logic and reason should, and normally would, prevail. [For those unfamiliar with the "CD" term, it is a state of stalled reasoning capability, a "jammed computer", resulting from conflict between what is believed and what is perceived or becomes evident(known).
I. e. , "I know that it SEEMS like 2 and 2 is four,... but The Bible, (which is the Word of God, after all) says it is 5!" ... TILT!"]
Such a person is mentally "between a rock and a hard place".
Another example. You (Cowboy) believe it is right to not-judge, or to not-look-down-on non-believers. You also believe that most believers, presumably including yourself, try to do what is "right".
This makes it very difficult for you to see what your words imply. It goes like this:
Someone who believes differently than you, and therefore "aint making it", has made a serious misjudgment, and likely has poor intelligence(else why would they not have seen the "light" as you, the presumably smarter, "saved" one have done?). Oh well, what can you say? Poor blind, doomed souls. It's their own fault. They had their chance, but blew it. (Dumba**es!) If God is content to see them in hell,... why should you not be?
Such condescension and "judgement" is indeed seen by most non-believers as "looking down upon". Someone might describe it as "raining down on the non-believers as if they are some idiot".
Even the symbolic imagery implies superior/inferior (Heaven "looks down on" Hell, no?). Think about it. See if you feel a "block" in trying to do so.
Because of this characteristic(cognitive dissonance), believers do not respond to conflicting reason, i. e. , are un-reason-able, and attempts to get them to recognize any inherently harmful aspects of their "belief" are usually fruitless.
The resulting "extreme" and "uncritical"(key word!) behavior is the very definition of "fanaticism",... which of course all believers deny exhibiting, ... but readily attribute to the other "brands" of believers.
The reason that "uncritical" is a key word, is because unquestioning "believers" or followers are very effective tools, when used by so-called "leaders", whether for good or not-good. And the history of religion, as the term is usually understood, does not offer a very good track record, regarding religion's treatment of "different" people. (This is of course an understatement. But the history-education level of the average believer, when combined with obligatory non-criticality and CD, cause the undeniable facts to go largely unacknowledged and un-discussed, among any mutual-support group of believers-of-a-feather. )
This history bears upon your remark about non-believers "having a hate for" believers. If I am a non-believer, ... if I do not think I know what God wants me to do to you, and that my very soul's salvation depends upon pleasing Him, ... I will not have quite the same motivation to do it to you. I may in fact be "reason-able" about things, rather than needing to see myself as a "missionary" or "crusader", and you as a "heathen". On the other hand, if I am a young man who is "certain" that God has 72 beautiful virgins awaiting me in Heaven, I just may attempt to earn my reward by doing His will and blowing myself up along with a busload of infidels.
People who have more regard for an imagined god and associated dogma than for their fellow humans make very poor "love thy neighbor as thyself"-ers.
The warping of reasoning normality into fanaticism is accomplished in a number of interwoven ways.
First, establish acceptance of dogmatic elements of belief that probably would otherwise be questioned,... such as;
"Heaven" is a wonderful reward you get if you do as we say. We're sure!
"Hell" is a horrible punishment you get if you don't. Trust us!
"The Devil" is the evil force that will try to make you doubt, question, or reject us. (Anyone who suggests a different 'truth' works for him!) We know!
All of this is God's will!. You better believe it!
We are overseers(shepherds to the flock) appointed by God to teach these things to you. Believe us! (and bring money)
Begin early (with young "lambs"), and continually indoctrinate and reinforce. Establish group-think "belief",... i. e. "certain knowledge" that various elements are "The Truth"(Jehovah's Witness, anyone? that's what they call their belief system. What right-thinking person can oppose "The Truth"?).
Herd the trained "sheep" using the very effective carrot(Heaven)/stick (Hell)technique.
Pretend and teach that obedience and "faith" is a result of choice ("Free Will") rather than coercion. Cognitive dissonance will insure that "unconditional love" of the father-god is accepted as fact, ... when the obvious and contrary reality is that there is no greater "condition" than "Believe and act as we say, or burn-in-hell". (Not for 5-to-10, with time off for good behavior, either,... FOREVER!!!) And while you are still alive, the "un"-condition will be peer rejection and condemnation(shunning, anyone?). But hey, don't feel pressured, ... it's your choice.
Very few people dis-couraged in such a manner dare to question the "teaching"(particularly those carefully steered away from education about opposing beliefs), and they also accept the "mission" to dis-courage others in turn.
This is the basic danger, ... the basic "harm", ... from which the distasteful historical actions have resulted. Lockstep marching (often anything-but "forward") on a path defined as "God's will". Blind "faith-based" unquestioning obedience to attitudes or practices which a normally-courageous person WOULD question.
This whole structure is built upon fear(of the unknown). This universal need/desire-to-know is (falsely)satisfied by whatever story the particular religion's "high priests" have created to fill the need. (The universality of the unknowing and the desire-to-know is the basis for the many differing religious myths and "How it Began"/"How it will End" concepts. ) The fear of some sort of "judgement" of we-the-powerless by Whomever-Created-and-(presumably)Controls-All is eased by the establishment of a set of "rules",... obedience to which supposedly insures that any judgement will be a favorable one. So the "believer" gets hope and reassurance, a feeling that he may have some worth after all (if conditions are met), the very best "purpose" in life (doing God's work), and continuing existence after death in a wonderful place. What's to worry?
The only costs are subservience, and suspension of his/her "given" independent reasoning, curiosity, and conscience. ( "The meek will inherit all good things. But that comes later. For now we strong "leaders" get it all. But Trust us!")
For me, there is more than "something" wrong with this picture.
This unflattering description of the "believer" mind-set makes clear why I, for one, and not alone, find association with, or attempted idea-exchange with them un-productive and frustrating.
Combine this with the "dangers" they represent, and the disturbing, "disabled" caricatures of normal humans that I see them as,... and you can understand that they are, IMO, more to be pitied and avoided than despised.
The "opposition" that I feel toward them is really opposition to what has been "done" to them, ... and to what they may in-turn obediently "do" to others.
So, do I think believers are idiots?
No,... I think they are cognitively dissonant, and therefore unreason-able people, dis-"couraged" people, who have been robbed of, or fearfully set aside, their critical judgement, along with any demands to be treated with intellectual respect by their so-called "leaders", and who threaten others, particularly the young, with the same fate. I think they perpetuate the acceptance of patently unacceptable dogma, and thus hinder progress of civilization as a whole. I also observe that after a near-lifetime of being surrounded by "them" (they're everywhere, you know
I have met no more than a handful with whom one could have unrestrained, rational discussion(as opposed to "arguments"). I still treasure those associations, and admire those people, despite our differing opinions.
This lengthy dissertation has addressed "believers". Discussions of "the beliefs" and their merits or lack thereof, would fill books. I'm sure anyone who has read this far will prefer that I not make the attempt in this forum.
There are a number of organizations for the "Recovering Religious". More power to them.
... and, all beliefs aside, best wishes to all forum members, ... especially those with the courage and courtesy to attempt reasonably calm discussion of this hi-voltage subject!
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