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Full Version: 10 ways religion makes you dumber
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1) makes you read just one book for the rest of your life and rely on your knowledge of it to get thru life.

2) attacks all scientific knowledge and discoveries and learning.

3) keeps you sequestered off in churches and communities of people who believe and think the same things you do.

4) greenlights believing things based only on faith, even going so far as making it a virtue to cultivate.

5) discourages exposure to one's own cultural resources like music, film, entertainment, art, sports, literature, lectures, concerts, theater.

6) teaches you to be paranoid that the world is just trying to deceive you and win you over to the devil.

7) fixates you on imagining and hoping for another utopian life beyond this one.

8) reinforces an ancient outdated worldview based entirely on what allegedly happened thousands of years ago.

9) squelches any natural curiosity to learn new things by convincing you its teachings are the only truths you need to know.

10) demonizes anyone who disagrees with you as a enemy of God who must go to hell.
(2 hours ago)Magical Realist Wrote: [ -> ]1) makes you read just one book for the rest of your life and rely on your knowledge of it to get thru life.

2) attacks all scientific knowledge and discoveries and learning.
Just outright false, even just consider how many books are written by religious people and how many early scientists based their work in the explicit belief in God.

Quote:3) keeps you sequestered off in churches and communities of people who believe and think the same things you do.
You mean in-person community, which is sorely lacking in our society otherwise?

Quote:4) greenlights believing things based only on faith, even going so far as making it a virtue to cultivate.
Many things are done on faith. Trust, hope, love, etc. all rely on faith.
Yeah, no virtues in any of that. 9_9

Quote:5) discourages exposure to one's own cultural resources like music, film, entertainment, art, sports, literature, lectures, concerts, theater.
Only if depraved. Most religious people partake in their surrounding culture.

Quote:6) teaches you to be paranoid that the world is just trying to deceive you and win you over to the devil.
It is naive to think temptation isn't ubiquitous. Alcohol, drugs, gambling, sex, etc..
Even if secular, you should understand the problems of excess.

Quote:7) fixates you on imagining and hoping for another utopian life beyond this one.
You mean other than the socialist utopia? @_@

Quote:8) reinforces an ancient outdated worldview based entirely on what allegedly happened thousands of years ago.
As opposed to an unrealistic worldview that history has repeatedly proven cannot obtain.

Quote:9) squelches any natural curiosity to learn new things by convincing you its teachings are the only truths you need to know.
See early religious scientists. Probably also a personal blind spot, just because you don't actually know many religious people in real life.

Quote:10) demonizes anyone who disagrees with you as a enemy of God who must go to hell.
Depends on the religion. Some leave that between you and God. Most Christians disagree, across different sects/denominations, but most don't assume all others go to hell.