When i become angry or unsympathetic towards an irrational Christian I remind myself of the days when I used to be in a cult. Religious belief is so ingrained in our society, minds, and culture that we sort of ‘automatically’ accept it as truth. Evolutionary theory can even explain belief. Because parents are trusted, if they say something is real then the children will believe also. Many species especially including humans cannot fend or survive by themselves in infancy. Therefore they are taught by their parents how to hunt, feed, migrate, etc.
Other species just behave by instinct. In species that live in herds like Elephants, primates, etc. bonds are also made with the other herd members. Quite like society at present or what tribes were like in ancient times. This allowed for even more information to be gathered and shared amongst group members. This ensures the survival of that infant through learning survival skills.
We have advanced so vastly in the last century even with communication methods, technology, new theories, concepts, etc. that culture hasn’t't had time to catch up. Schools are not teaching the right subjects in my opinion and focus too much on mathematics and other knowledge worthless to the average person. Many of us have no idea how the brain works, only those that seek the knowledge through science and study can really have anything worth listening too.
I am one of those people, and although i’m not a rocket scientist, I know enough about how our world works. People will fight to the death over their beliefs because they believe that they are true. Even though we see no logic in their beliefs, they have managed to bypass the need to prove their beliefs because they do not hold their beliefs up for questioning against science and reason.
When and if they ever consider otherwise, fear, doubt, and worry about losing one’s entire belief system is too overwhelming for the brain so it uses defense mechanisms to protect the psyche.
Remember the Matrix? I honestly believe the writers viewed ‘The Matrix’ as the system of religious belief. Neo is like a new atheist or agnostic that questioned his beliefs, was punished for it by the ‘system’ but fought his way to find truth.
Neo: I thought it wasn’t real
Morpheus: Your mind makes it real
Morpheus: Unfortunately, no one can be told what the Matrix is. You have to see it for yourself.
Morpheus: The Matrix is a system, Neo. That system is our enemy. But when you’re inside, you look around, what do you see? Businessmen, teachers, lawyers, carpenters. The very minds of the people we are trying to save. But until we do, these people are still a part of that system and that makes them our enemy. You have to understand, most of these people are not ready to be unplugged. And many of them are so inured, so hopelessly dependent on the system, that they will fight to protect it.
People are willing to die to preserve their religious convictions and even their children, think of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Muslims, etc. The power of persuasion is strong, and cannot be so ealily realized. None of the Christians here can be ‘Told’ that their God doesn’t exist and is only a figment of their imagination. They have to see it for themselves, understand the concept of logic and reason. And they will not be open to ‘see’ or comprehend anything until the are ready. Just like Neo; questioning and searching for something because deep down inside they know something isn’t right. They probably will have their beliefs until the day they die unless somehow oneday “The Matrix” is destroyed.
