Why do most atheists/agnostics seem to believe that religion - any religion - is a tyranny over the mind?

Answer 1

1) It asks people (with varying degrees of coercion) to believe things in the absence of, and even against, rational evidence.

2) Some go even further and say that you can sin in your thoughts... Even in your mind, you cannot escape the surveillance cameras. How's that for tyranny?

Answer 2

I think atheists are skeptical of religion because adhering to a faith would mean a lack of free will (please hold all eye-rolling until the end). It's their understanding that if you sign on with a religion, you're stuck-- you've latched on to this belief and there is no Get-Out-of-Religiondom-Free card (if Shakespeare can make up words, so can I). The text of the religion you chose governs your life, and with it are governed your sexuality, clothing and dining choices, alcohol and drug intake, and societal maxims.

And, with three hours of sleep, I begin to make no sense. :[

Answer 3

Because it is the church trying to maintain the power it has over the masses. Telling people to believe in something that has no rational basis or evidence to support is just wrong. Now start telling them to believe or you are going to hell when they are growing up is just flat out wrong.

Science is the light against the black sky of religion.

Answer 4

Because religion uses altered meanings of common words with the very specific intention of increasing hold over the believer's mind. Just examine the differences in the religious and secular meanings of know, truth and fact, and the way that they are used in each setting, and then the default assumption that you make when you use them in each setting. It is brainwashing.

Answer 5

I wouldn't say a tyranny over the mind, more of a con-man who sways you to do anything he wants and then rapes you if you're not careful, what I'm saying is don't be closed minded.

Answer 6

Religions get used to attack people over race and stuff, people get told how to think and act

Answer 7

promises are made that only can be verified after death.

promises are conditional if you believe then ... else ...
belief is often based on fear the else branche.

it replace one miracle that is the existance of a universe and us human, with an even bigger miracle existance of a god, that can even not be seen, yet is supposed to explain the first miracle.

.

Answer 8

Perhaps because they left and can't see why others haven't. Everyone walks away from religion at their own pace, if they do at all.

Answer 9

Because when directly conflicts with then religion wins!

Answer 10

man created christianity as a scare tactic to control the people the government couldnt control, if people are scared of going to hell the behave a little better