I was talking to an old friend the other day who had been an agnostic for 20 years, but recently began attending Catholic church. “Do you believe now?,” I asked.
“Yes, I think so.”
“So what made you change your mind?”
“I really have no idea. I was asked to be a godparent, and so I started going to church, then took some classes. And things started making sense — the bible stories, the saint stories — maybe they really happened. It’s nice being around friends and going to lunch with them, too.”
This is how it begins. You get into a community, and you realize that seemingly sane people believe all kinds of superstitious stories. But they seem like such normal, smart people — maybe it’s true. And it’s so nice seeing people who care about you every week. And the ritual and mystery is interesting…
But the lack of evidence hasn’t changed. There is no more evidence for any of the superstitious and supernatural claims of the Bible or of Catholic history than before. And it didn’t even seem to be a consideration for her.
And that’s how religion usually works. It’s not because of evidence that makes the absurd claims seem plausible. It’s because it makes you feel good. Everyone around you believes it, and after a while, so do you.
And that’s scary.
John C: Anti-no, “I” dont have any credibility either but the difference is that “I”m not... 
Custador: “Matt and Mark record “My God, My God, Why hast Thou forsaken me?”; John, “It is finished”; and Luke,... 
Daniel Florien: When you have indigestion when you’re reading it, you know it’s true! 
Mary Lynne: Hmm – I wonder what a “true fairy tale” would be. Is that like jumbo... 
Antiutopia: John C — Christ himself doesn’t have any credibility with these ignorant morons — do you... 
Uzza: Cool story. It reminds me of Confucius, meeting the mad hermit of Chu, who told him it was... 
Sunny Day: Custador if you’re waiting for hope, you might want to pack a few extra lunches and update your will.... 
8 Comments
I agree. The social bonds are what these organisations have always used to force compliance and retain membership. And then they can manipulate you with guilt. I speak from experience.
There’s a debate going on over on Richard Dawkins’ website about how atheists could create a similar community to support people that might have prevented your friend’s falling into the clutches of these morons.
What kind of agnostic agrees to be a godparent anyway?
I would *love* to be asked to be a Cthulhuparent.
And, the truth is that this person was probably less and agnostic and more an apathyist. People are far more likely to be sucked in if they’ve never really thought about their reasons for believe/unbelief, and tested them out.
I’m immune to such tactics now, but only because I took the time to do a lot of research on the bible, history, and science. If you settle for agnosticism as a default because you just can’t get up the energy to look into anything, then you are vulnerable to this sort of slow indoctrination.
IMO.
That’s exactly what happened to me. I was just going into high school and I had just moved to a new state. The Christian group with which I was affiliated for about 3 years was filled with charismatic, intelligent, loving people who, most disarmingly, wanted to be my friend. I was indeed surrounded by some of the smartest people I’d met up until that point. Nevertheless, they had a hang-up. In the end, what drove me out of the christian religion was largely my struggle to reconcile all the stories and truisms I’d been fed with the logic and reason that I had come to value through my studies. I’m quite glad I chose logic! In retrospect, I feel that I was preyed upon in the name of god. They saw my insecurity and need for community and sought to give me everything I desired plus one: god. Luckily now, I can look back objectively and can even laugh about it. Reading here, what I’ve already written, it seems like someone recovering from an addiction. Personally, I don’t think the comparison is unwarranted.
Daniel, I agree with what you wrote, except the last sentence. Why is it scary?
@privet: It’s scary because a feeling of acceptance and community can make us believe anything.
ZOMG!!!
People joining churches!?!?!?!
What next?
jonboy: hmm… glossolalia, assault under the rubric of demon possession, schizotypy, impaired reason, insularity, discrimination based on religion, mutilation of children, poor family planning, guilt issues and trying to get more people into the same thing.
that’s what’s next when people join churches.
@Wazza:
Duuuuude. That was awesome.
@jonboy:
pwned.