How can grown men & women submit to religion? Isn't it better to stand up straight, not cower?

Question

Maurice H: "For whoever quoteth until his listeners are blue in the face shal feel that he has convinced the multitude, yea though he be a wombat"

Answer 1

Often-times, it is because they were mentally-(and/or physically)-abused as small children.

Telling a child that they MUST think a certain way or be subject to Eternal Torment, is a reprehensible thing to do. IMO

(Beating the 'devil' out of them etc.)

(if anyone else did this, without invoking a 'religion', they'd be locked-up, under psychiatric observation etc. as well they should)

Being abused in this manner will often cause a trauma that stays with people well into their adult lives, even their entire lives-!

Thankfully, some can come out of it, to a greater or lesser extent, and return some semblance of rationality to their lives.

Answer 2

Atheism is a religion.

THE ATHEISTS CREDO
We believe in one Matter,
The almighty, the omnipotent
Maker of the whole universe
Of all that is seen and unseen
We believe in one Cosmic Egg
The only Son of Matter
Eternally begotten of Matter
Matter from Matter, Energy from Energy,
True Matter from True Matter
Begotten not made,
Of one being with Matter
Through the Egg all things were made
For us men and for our evolution
It formed itself in the heavens
By the power of the Energy it became incarnate into virgin space, and was made Egg
For our sake, it exploded in a singularity,
expanded, and expanded and became everything
In accordance with the ‘Big Bang’ story
It spread across the heavens and evolved into galaxies
It will continue in glory
Until the ultimate heat death

We believe in the Energy, the giver of life, which proceeds from the Matter and the Egg
With the Matter and the Egg it is worshipped and glorified
It has been revealed by the atheists
We believe in one, secular humanist and Darwinian faith
We acknowledge one, atheistic viewpoint for the education of all.
We look for the oblivion of the dead
And the destruction of the world to come.
Amen

Answer 3

Many people feel real freedom in their religion - free from fear and they have confidence that they're not alone. So they don't cower. In fact, I've met many people who are content and happy. You're just prejudiced. BTW I'm probably agnostic so have no axe to grind.

Answer 4

The problem is you're assuming that being religious means having to grovel in the dirt at the feet of Divinity.

It doesn't have to be that way.

In some religious persuits, they would prefer it if you grovelled. But where I come from, Divine finds it downright irritating.

Answer 5

It depends on ur idea of religion. If you see religion as changable, then u should submit to it, but see it as a "ball and chain", then stand up against it. By submitting to God, you are not cowering, merely acknowledging that he is all-powerful, but religion is man-made. It is your decision to submit to it or not.

Answer 6

personally, i see nothing wrong in being a weak or a coward, so if some people just want to cower, i think they have that much freedom as anyone has to stand up straight.

Answer 7

Fear of death, fear of not being special, greed, being able to feel superior to others....the list goes on...it's not pretty.
And atheism is not a religion, even though religious people are trying to spread this rumour. It's the absence of religion. But I understand it must be difficult for some to imagine people not having a religion in life....

Answer 8

Yes, religion is a state of childishness believing there is always a father figure doing the thinking for you.

Answer 9

your question kinda sounds like cowering to me, because of the way it is stated. Might want to reflect on that possibility. Like what are u afraid of, certainly not Christians.

Answer 10

Oi Nelson, ummmmmmm oh I can't think of a retort