McLovin1t wrote:I disagree, I mean in all the other ones, people come in trolling. If you say it's so superficial, why don't you make some arguments that "break the mold."
You don't break a mold and you certainly don't convince someone to drop their belief system.
Proselytization is pure brain washing. The conversion to a religion is the adoption of a predefined belief system that is wrapped in social etiquette.
When you become a Buddhist, you don't just believe in Buddha, you are forced to adopt a set of teachings and a tailored world view. This is what defines someone as a Buddhist, it's the acceptance of these terms. As nice as the teachings are, and as unrestricted as the religion is, there's still something common to all Buddhist and this is what binds them, what categorically defines them as who they are.
This discussion is superficial because Atheism involves zero adoption. Atheism is the rejection of a tailored view. You cannot convert someone to Atheism, let alone persuade people to become Atheists by disproving their beliefs - this is the reason why I no longer even try, why I nod as if they are speaking of Santa Claus.
Being an Atheist isn't about denouncing God, it's about the realization that the World is natural, organic. It's living without the need for self-validation. It's about being comfortable with your person and your role in the Universe.
Letting go of the comforts of religion and being responsible for oneself means taking a step in your progression as an individual. Its part of growing up and maturing.
Sadly, not all of us are able to reach this stage of development. Some of us are dependant on religion to satisfy our psychological needs. As time goes on, and people learn to cope with these needs, religion will disappear. Like an appendix, wisdom teeth, or male nipples, religion will remain only as a reminder of what we once were.
