Why We are Mad At You by an Atheist

[longship]

23. Dennett calls it epidemiology

Recognizing that religion will never go away, whether memetic or genetic, he wants to find a way to make less toxic.

But there is no fucking way you are going to do that by attempting to stamp out religion. Instead, like a epidemiologist, you look at ways to morph it into an aviralent form, one which is less toxic.

First, one must recognize that religious expression is not going to go away. People speaking in tongues may very well be experiencing precisely the same mental experience that I do when listening to Bach. It is a transforming experience, possibly the best moment of your life. These numenous experiences are common in human history and will never go away. It is a great part of what makes us human.

You ignore it at all of our peril.

But make no mistake, I consider organized religion is a huge danger in the world.

Sorry, I babble on.