Religion: Victims and Perpetrators

The religious can be divided into two categories; victims and perpetrators.

Most believers are victims. They cannot help themselves and continue to cling to irrational ideas and behaviour they learnt when they were young. It is pointless to try to reason with these people. They cannot change despite a complete lack of evidence for their beliefs. They are easily led and will accept the most absurd ideas promulgated by the institutions or individuals they see as higher in their religious hierarchy. When confronted by a religious individual the enlightened observer should show compassion just as one should when faced with someone displaying the symptoms of a conventional illness.

However, just as with a conventional illness, we have a duty to prevent the spread of the disorder. Hence we have a right to insist that religious practices take place in private, away from our own children. Hence, the move in the UK toward more faith schools is immoral. It is our duty to resist the indoctrination of future generations.

Perpetrators are people who like to “spread the word”; religious teachers, church officials and other members of a religious hierarchy. There are clear secular reasons for their actions. They suffer from the same needs as the rest of us. They want to feel important. We all want to find a pecking order to climb. Even the simple minded evangelist who tries to bring you the “good news” on your doorstep wants to persuade you that he knows something that you do not. If he can draw you in then he is nearer the top than you. He got the message first.

The preacher with a congregation has surely found heaven on earth. He stands in a special place, everyone listens. He might even be allowed to wear special clothes or, joy of joys, a silly hat.

Perpetrators may also be victims. Most religious practitioners do believe in the supernatural but some do not – they are in it for the money and power.
There is little point in discussing their ridiculous beliefs. They did not arrive at them through rational thought and no amount of argument will change their minds.

Whether they are justified or not is not the point – remember, they want to feel important. All you need to do is show a complete lack of deference.

If everyone around you is reverent it is very difficult for an individual to step out of line and show contempt. It would be easy to appear to be rude or disrespectful of the others in the audience.
As an enlightened observer you know that it is not a god that is slighted but the man in the silly hat. However, by remaining acquiescent you will appear to indicate an acceptance of this person’s elevated position and special knowledge. As an enlightened observer you need to find an acceptable way of showing your disdain.

If it is a public gathering all you need do is pointedly leave. Do it during a critical moment and be very apologetic. The more fuss you can make apologising the better.
In other circumstances you need to make your feelings known directly. Merely tell them that you find their actions unacceptable and that you would prefer them to continue in private because you would not like your children to witness these acts.
Above all, be confident, smile, be courteous, and be gracious.