Religion is a form of social mental illness - a type of social neurosis. It would be listed in the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) if they removed the ban on social norms. When capitalism is put on the diagnostic "couch" we can easily see the psychosis involved. Religion too should be shown up for its harmful and delusional behaviour.
When you are over twenty-five and your brain has fully developed and you still believe in something for which there is no evidence, there are three possible reasons. One, you are a fool, two, you have a mental capacity considerably below normal or three, you have a mental illness, that is you have stopped thinking for yourself because you have been indoctrinated. We teach children to believe in something without evidence, by having faith in what elders tell them, so that we can teach them that everything being told them is not true. It's part of teaching critical thinking skills. It's a sad state of affairs when adults still think like children and have unquestioning faith. Faith is not a virtue. It should be considered a tool to develop critical thinking skills for children. When adults persist in faith-based thinking then we all suffer in society.
There is a psychological phenomena known as normalcy. We tend to think that what happened yesterday will continue into the future. People generally don't realize that religion is a social construct. It was developed in a time of ignorance about the natural world. People generally don't realize that this institution, like capitalism, can be de-constructed and re-designed. Nothing stays the same. Why should we be limited by anachronistic institutions. In a healthy society social norms should be questioned. Slavery and apartheid would still be with us if this weren't the case. Religion is still with us today because of indoctrination and a taboo about questioning social norms. So how can we call ourselves, as a society, enlightened? There is always room for continuous improvement. But it starts with recognizing there is a problem.
One of my proudest accomplishments and contributions is to have raised three children in a way that encouraged critical thinking. This wasn't easy in a system that perpetuates religious madness. Although we expound secularism in Canada we still endorse religions in all their nefarious forms. Our politics and educational system is filled with religious undercurrents, a vestige of our ignorant past. Our present government, for example, has established an agency to encourage religious tolerance. It has a freedom of religion mandate. Bet where is the freedom from religion mandate?
Why doesn't our school system make the Origin of Species mandatory reading. Because it's a dangerous idea to the establishment. Before November 24, 1859 when this idea was first published by Darwin you might be excused for believing in religion. At that time it appeared rational, without any other explanation as to how we got here. Indeed, most people then believed whole heartedly in a creationist god. After 1859 if you were aware of the idea and evidence of evolution you would probably be irrational to believe in a religious explanation. Because now a viable alternative explanation to religion existed. An explanation based on evidence ususally trumps wishful or magical thinking. Why isn't a more rational idea of our world not widely taught.
At one time our school system served, by commission, to indoctrinate children with religion. This was the case even in our public school system, a supposed secular school. I remember in grade 7 being given free copies of the New Testament. Our school system today, by omission, serves as indoctrinating students by simply not teaching everyone about a basic truth in nature, namely evolution.
Don Quixote is not a satire of politics but rather a satire on religion.
Religious people suffer from a form of mental illness somewhat like Jesus Freaks on the streets handing out their mental thoughts.
Health Canada just release the abortion pill, days before an election call. Coincidence, I don't think so. Why has France allowed it for 25 years and Canada just now allows it? The tide is turning or has turned. Politicians will now do anything for re-election.
Churches still are exempt from taxes. Why? You might think that they could at least put solar panels on their roofs.
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