2 ms·

They can make the claim because it's disbelief in the supernatural, not one flavor of supernatural.

ASalazarMX 7y ago
Late reply, but this is it. Once you analyze a religion and its patterns for indoctrination, you find the same patterns in others. I was raised a Catholic, but lived in a city with persistent derivatives trying to convert you to, like Jehovah's Witnesses, Christians, Mormons... Better yet, publicly declaring yourself as an atheist means "possible convert" for some evangelists, so I was also invited to join cults like Dianetics, Satanism and Wicca. Surprisingly, Satanism or Wicca felt like less-aggresive forms of make-believe, more fantasy than religion. In my experience, every religion/cult that demands conversions follows this simple recipe: 1. You must unquestionably and absolutely commit to the god(s) described in this book(s). 2. This god will disproportionately reward you if you obey his orders. 3. This god will disproportionately punish you if you disobey his orders. 4. This god can only give you orders through a few middle-men. 5. The middle-men speak for god, thus are always right and should not be questioned. 6. Sometimes, god will need money or labor. Give it to the middle-men. 7. Collect your reward/punishment after death. 8. Suicide is cheating. 9. IMPORTANT: God will disproportionately punish people who don't even know about him, so it's your sacred duty to save them by converting them to this religion.
- lcall 7y ago
  I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and those do not represent my beliefs. Quickly I can identify at least #s 3, 4, 5, and especially the 1st 1/2 of #9, and other phrasing, which I do not believe. Maybe more. And #1 is an individual choice after we learn, and He is capable of being both just and merciful, since after all, we believe we are His children, not objects of spite. Everyone will have a chance eventually to choose, fairly, what level of blessings they want from Him, and whether to live accordingly. And yes, our choices do have consequences, but we will all have a fair chance to repent (change our ways).

Late reply, but this is it. Once you analyze a religion and its patterns for indoctrination, you find the same patterns in others. I was raised a Catholic, but lived in a city with persistent derivatives trying to convert you to, like Jehovah's Witnesses, Christians, Mormons... Better yet, publicly declaring yourself as an atheist means "possible convert" for some evangelists, so I was also invited to join cults like Dianetics, Satanism and Wicca. Surprisingly, Satanism or Wicca felt like less-aggresive forms of make-believe, more fantasy than religion. In my experience, every religion/cult that demands conversions follows this simple recipe: 1. You must unquestionably and absolutely commit to the god(s) described in this book(s). 2. This god will disproportionately reward you if you obey his orders. 3. This god will disproportionately punish you if you disobey his orders. 4. This god can only give you orders through a few middle-men. 5. The middle-men speak for god, thus are always right and should not be questioned. 6. Sometimes, god will need money or labor. Give it to the middle-men. 7. Collect your reward/punishment after death. 8. Suicide is cheating. 9. IMPORTANT: God will disproportionately punish people who don't even know about him, so it's your sacred duty to save them by converting them to this religion.

lcall 7y ago
I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and those do not represent my beliefs. Quickly I can identify at least #s 3, 4, 5, and especially the 1st 1/2 of #9, and other phrasing, which I do not believe. Maybe more. And #1 is an individual choice after we learn, and He is capable of being both just and merciful, since after all, we believe we are His children, not objects of spite. Everyone will have a chance eventually to choose, fairly, what level of blessings they want from Him, and whether to live accordingly. And yes, our choices do have consequences, but we will all have a fair chance to repent (change our ways).