[MENTION=13730]PintoBean[/MENTION]
Granted, this is a comic, but I think it illustrates the point [MENTION=8603]Eventhorizon[/MENTION] and [MENTION=13723]Misadventure[/MENTION] were trying to make:
http://theoatmeal.com/comics/atheism
I think what this cartoon illustrates is that all people are more complex than any ideology that they hold.
Blaming religion or lack of religion or atheism is not getting us as a people anywhere productive, nor does it give us a practical approach to address any issues. As much as many ideologies are ugly...and they certainly are....ideologies in themselves....being without personhood....are not able to murder anyone. It is people that create religions, philosophies, books, sciences, societies, cultures and relationships. It is people that kill people. Ideologies that are totalitarian and fascist are powerful because people choose to hold them. The real question is...why does a person choose to hold and support a totalitarian and fascist ideology?
We could say it is because they are mentally ill or psychologically damaged. Or ignorant. Or because they are uneducated. Or because they have no access to alternative information. Or that it is cultural conditioning. Or there is fear of social/cultural exclusion.
One thing that is clear beyond a shadow of a doubt is that they are afraid. Deeply afraid. Whether this fear is of any 'God' construction, of their body, of life, of people, of mortality, the future etc, all of it amounts to the same result.
People that are deeply afraid want to control their environment and other people. They keenly feel an 'ememy' that they believe...in controlling and conquoring...will ultimately control and conquor their sense of fear and powerlessness.
What can be done? Clearly it is complex and that depends on the personal choice of the person that holds the fascist/totalitarian ideology. Im not getting into that because im not interested in changing anyone else's mind.
But what we can do is to continue living our life that is meaningful and joyous to us. Do not let someone else's fear conquor you. Do not let your own fear get the better of you.
If we want things to change, if we want to have a bright future, we have to believe in that future and make it happen. The future belongs to people, not to ideologies. Keep on doing more of the things that bring you joy. Set the example of what you want to see happen. Make it happen. More trust, more cooperation, sustainability, respect, freedom of thought and expression. We protect what we cherish not by creating prisons and borders around it, but by giving it our sincere attention, energy and time. If you pay careful attention to your garden....it will be be harder for any weeds to grow in the first place, because you will not create a space for weeds to grow, and if they do grow, you can pull them out before they start taking over the garden. Its not about rose coloured glasses, its about actually paying attention and feeding the roses and the apples and the oranges.
Do not let anyone take your present away by predicting a dire future. You are powerful, and you have agency.... What you do and think now will create your future. Whatever happens, do not lose faith in people, in the world, in the future, and most significantly...don't lose faith in yourself. Otherwise....there really is no point in trying. We try because we think things will get better. And that is how things actually get better.
