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Just to be the devil's advocate here, with your answer, don't you think that is actually how many people come to be atheist? The absurdity of much religious indoctrination... and then you get old enough to think for yourself... and you just know that whatever may be going on at life's essence, it is not that!
I actually think there IS a place for the fundamentalists...a few weeks back here on Ask I myself took a strong stand in favor of the Jehovah's Witnesses, because of their great work in combing through society and giving people strong structure to struggle their way out of very destructive lifestyles.
I also did it because I don't like how so many people bash the JW's.
But I also consider atheism to be one of the world's great spiritual traditions.
Virginia, you're right, of course. Religious indoctrination is self-limiting unless it's very successful - Dozy mentioned earlier the Jesuit thing about 'Give me a child until he's 3 (or 5) and he's mine forever'. Scary - very scary.
Of course, there's a place for the highly religious. Religious faith can inspire people to great things. However, how far do we go in accepting a set of beliefs that is demonstrably wrong, causes much harm in the world, yet also inspires good.
I mentioned to Richest1 a couple of weeks ago (not sure if he saw it) that although religious belief can move mountains, a couple of mechanical diggers and a plan is much more certain and effective.
Yes, Virginia, I consider myself lucky in my upbringing in that dirty, Northern England town. My parents were very good at letting me find my own way, even at the cost of some embarrassment for them! There are stories I could tell!
JWs? Do we need'em? What function in society do they perform, exactly? Door knocker testing?