The fire that keeps the engine of Christianity wheezing along is the fear of death. Because Christianity proposes a "Happy Ending" for Troo B'lievers™, there will need to be a better answer from the opposition to crush Christianity (and other religions that promise rewards in an afterlife where one isn't really dead after dying...). Personally, I don't think it can be done. People will cling to absurd fairy tales that make them feel good rather than face the horror of personal extinction. In that sense, virtually everyone who is religious has a "troubled mind".
It's not about education and reason; it's about what's comfortable or what makes one feel good. Religion is a drug and humanity is an addict. Withdrawal will be painful and bloody. --GearHedEd
It's not about education and reason; it's about what's comfortable or what makes one feel good. Religion is a drug and humanity is an addict. Withdrawal will be painful and bloody. --GearHedEd
I do wonder if the Christian fear of hell and belief in Heaven makes it more difficult for people to make peace with their impending deaths. I suspect it's more difficult to process the end of one's life with all this mythological baggage. I wonder if any research has been done on the matter?
ReplyDeleteBecause no Christian would knowingy sign up, and because ethics would be brought into account. HOWEVER, there was research that discovered that when you are reminded (both consiously and sub-consiously) about death- not necessarily one's own- you tend to cling more fervently to your beliefs, religious or not. But religion tended to get the best results.
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