At 10:50 PM -0400 25/9/09, RicardoStarkey at aol.com wrote:
>And in case you think that I believe
>that mocking religious people will make them see the light, you are mistaken.
> I think that in the huge majority of cases, there is no cure for
>supernatural beliefs, and the best tactic is to give believers a
>wide berth. The
>only hope is a good education for the young, which of course they deserve.
While it makes sense to give religious fanatics a wide berth, I don't think that's wise and correct in case of immediate family. I had a sister who joined a religious cult, one of those American Pentecostal type cults that go in for strict "Tithing" and zealous promotion of members work ethic to ensure they earn enough to keep the "Pastor" in the manner to which he would like to become accustomed. She was a member for years, until the hypocrisy of the "pastor" finally drove her to rebel.
The rest of her family never found any reason to avoid her. Rather we just overlooked her eccentricity. I did have to endure a meal at her house once where the "Pastor" was invited and I had to talk to him. For some reason there was never any suggestion that this should be repeated. Thankfully.
I'm not sure what you mean by "a good education for the young" being the only hope to save us from this racket. I certainly hope you aren't suggesting that the young be indoctrinated with anti-religious notions. That is a cure that is as bad as the disease. Indocrination is the problem, not the solution.
Bill Bartlett Bracknell Tas