Having grown up smothered in Catholic fear, I mean, religion… I have some pointers to offer those who may combat blind religion. Having been the child behind the blinders, I understand the mindset of a person who is so deeply entrenched in religion that the non-theist who may encounter them risk blowing up in frustration.
The scariest things for a christian to let go of:
1. Fear of going to hell. This takes a lot of time to get rid of.
2. Fear of not being immortal. Once a person realizes how vast the universe really is and how insignificant humans are, it is disruptive to a “Jesus loves you and made you in his image” mentality.
3. Fear of rejection from religious friends and family.
When talking to a religious subscriber, it is always good to remember:
1. They most likely don’t realize how silly their religion is.
2. They will not respond to attacks, but will respond to baby steps of reason.
3. If you can get them to make your point, they will go home and ponder it for DAYS.
4. Try talking about religion from an outside perspective. If you play in their court, you are not getting anywhere because the dogma walls keep reason OUT.
5. Ask questions. Most religious people cannot explain their religion. For many people, having to explain their religion helps them to prove to themselves how silly it is. Self realization is always the best form of liberation.
6. Have them explain their religion without using their religion as a reference. Explain that this is like defining a word in the dictionary without using the word itself. See how far they can get.
7. Be patient. Realize that religion is their crutch and you are trying taking it away from them, just like a child needs to be weened from a bottle. They need to know that they can come to you with questions and not be laughed at. Eventually, if they join the non-theist forces, they may be your #1 fan.
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