Slimebeast said:
No dogmas? Freethinking? I don't know really.
Look at how many dogmas have replaced religous dogma and how much freethinking have been restricted in the short time since religion lost it's grip of Western society.
- Everyone must love immigration or else you're labeled racist.
Not neccessarily. Depends on your motivations and the current problems in the country you're in. For instance, in the UK immigration is a hot topic of debate and many are for stricter immigration control.
- You have to love the environment and care about nature.
You do? I find it varies person to person. Take the guys on Top Gear for instance, absolutely hate anything about supporting the environment.
- You have to not only believe in global warming but also be concerned about it and actively support measures taken against it.
Again, not neccessarily. Plenty out there argue against global warming (at least humans causing it). Also, see above.
- You must accept evolution theory or you're labeled a nutcase.
Well, this one's kinda true, mainly due to the level of evidence for evolution, but that's already been discussed in other threads so I'll leave it be here.
- You have to be against drugs or be labeled someone who doesn't take responsibility of himself.
Errr... depends who you talk to. Obviously the conservative groups will always say so, but about half the people I know have used recreational drugs. And what about places like Amsterdam or even Camden Town? It's pretty much socially acceptable to take drugs at certain places such as music festivals.
- You shouldn't be religious or people will label you ignorant.
I thought freedom to practice religion was kinda important in the Western world?
- You should accept abortions or you're barbaric.
Again, a debate that rages and is hardly black and white. That viewpoint is hardly the norm, even in the Western world.
- You should not support the concept of revenge because that's considered primitive.
Yet revenge stories do incredibly well in cinema, literature etc. I think there are plenty out there who support the idea of vengeance up to a point.
Without religion I think we still live in mental slavery.
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I think the major difference is that those dogmas are more likely to change if and when new evidence/circumstances presents itself. With Religious dogmas there is a whole lot of confusion if we're presented with new evidence contrary to past dogmas and many just won't accept it until the majority of society does (which takes a long time if the religion is dominant). Without religion I don't think this would occur.
A lot of what you put up there as well varies from country to country and I don't neccessarily agree with. Just because large groups have reached similar conclusions doesn't equate to mental slavery. See comments above.
