the golden dragonfly
We often hear claims that children brought up in religious families are ‘brain-washed’ into having the same beliefs as their parents. It’s an easy charge to make, but perhaps more difficult to explain how any parent would be able to avoid brainwashing their child, even if their ‘belief’ is just that it’s rational to have a lack of belief.
One thing that’s clear, is that growing up with the understanding of a theistic existence can make some pretty deep pathways in spongy juvenile brains, and even after all the logical arguments for atheism are accepted, the neurons are apt to firing down the same laid pathways for years to come.
I would like to help my fellow human beings struggling to extract the pincers of belief still deeply embedded within them. People who realise the god they have been singing to for all these years cannot possibly exist, but still wince when someone makes reference to a sky fairy; and people who know that nothing about their ex-holy book makes sense, but still feel compelled to defend ‘theological’ points. I’m afraid I may, on occasion, be among their number.
Inspiration is drawn from another recovery program – the AA 12-step program, which I was surprised to discover is deeply religious! Β So, without further ado, I am pleased to unveil the 8-step program to repaving your brain, also known as ‘The Golden Dragonfly’.
- We admitted we were confused about religion – that the inconsistencies had become unmanageable.
- We came to believe that facts and our rational thought could restore us to sanity.
- We made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to logic.
- We made a searching and fearless inventory of contradictions.
- We admitted to ourselves that gods don’t exist.
- We were entirely ready to remove our illogical behaviour.
- We accepted that life has its shortcomings but it’s no big deal.
- Having had a logical awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to religious people still caught in the trap of irrational thought.
I Like!
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Thanks! π What’s better – the photography or the words?
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The words…. i’ll leave the Ark to comment on the photo π
It’s a great articulation of non-belief. A message sorely needed.
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(***spam alert***) Wu Di has risen!!!
And my site is faster!
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That’s a bit disrespectful to my post – using it to advertise yours. AND you didn’t even say that my dragonfly is better than any the Ark man has posted. Compliment the insect and I’ll forgive you. π
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The dragonfly looks like he’s on a starting line.
I like it.
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I probably would have officially connected the dots after I found out about Santa Claus, but my mom hid my marker from me in her tabernacle.
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Okay, Now that photo is frikkin’ awesome. In fact you can rabbit on with the others, and I’ll just nick your pic and go show Ems. Bye…
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Thank you!! π I’ll continue to defend you against those who would call you ‘village idiot’.
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Oh, goodness. This is a bit like Geez Us? offering himself to his self.
You sounded as if you would relish the opportunity of calling me the village idiot! What are you going to do, defend me against You? lol!
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I’m a complex being – a mother, a daughter and wholly spirited.
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Wholly spirited indeed! In one of my books there is a dog named Wholly Cheeses. If I thought you might chuckle I would post an excerpt. π
And talking of which, I posted a bit from the book Almost Dead over on the Coffee Maker’s site .
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We were all born atheists.
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I know what you mean, but I’m not sure that makes absolute sense. I’ve argued about this one before, and I think I’ll try and squeeze in a post about it.
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