> atheism, which if the constant preaching of is any indication, seems to be turning into quite the religion...
I've actually noted this. The whole "Bless You" debate squares that point.
My point is more about critical thinking and how religion takes that away
from people. Is anyone in argument that it is a bad thing for large groups
of people to think the same way without due diligence? Pretty sure most
people see large groups thinking as one as a bad thing. You can call it atheism,
or what have you, but essentially we're talking about freedom of critical
thinking vs. freedom of religion. I don't care for religion, or people
thinking in large groups as one, so I lean towards people's right to think
critically.
> Pinning the blame for Mauritania's slavery problem on "religion" takes the eye off the ball
Let's ask: Why is there slavery in Mauritania? What would make people
okay with their own enslavement? No education about what slavery is?
Sure. Let's say it's to do with education. Now, who's putting a stop
to education? Whoops. Here's to taking the eye off the ball, esoteric
style. I tire of hearing how people will solve the world's ball of fire
that is enslavement, brutality, ignorance by throwing a pail of water
over it when the real problem is the factory making the lighter fluid.
