I'm proposing it should be treated as a psychoactive drug, alcohol being the best example in our culture. People indulge in it more or less deliberately, although it can also be addictive. They do so because it changes their perception of the world in a way that they find more pleasant or comfortable.
The world is pretty harsh, and drugs as well as mysticism can embellish it with imaginary structures or niches, making it less scary (to those who like that sort of thing - for others mysticism or drugs are scary). Also, rationality doesn't offer any strong sense of purpose, and does lead superficially to some poor choices like extreme sadism or hedonism. We all create some kind of myth as to what we want to be, and religions, as well as other belief systems such as ideologies, offer material for that.
So, I think that the correct approach to faith is not that religious people are simply mistaken or gullible (though that category exists and need help) but rather that they are using a psychoactive drug called religion to cope with the world. Others use alcohol, modern fantasy, elaborate forms of sex. These are all mechanisms to cope with the harshness of reality.
We definitely need a society that deals with the conflict and destruction that these alternative myths or drugs would cause if their adherents were allowed to indulge to an unhealthy degree, or force them on others. Myths, particularly, benefit from being treated as fact by society, and that kind of encroachment must be stopped. Basically I'm saying use myths or drugs tolerantly and responsibly.
Beyond that you'd be perfectly right to say that some people would be better off with different myths or drugs, or with reduced dependency on either. If you wish to convert religious people to atheism for this reason, I think what you're doing is similar to making a drinker quit. You have to properly understand the psychological need fulfilled by the drug, and offer a different lifestyle that the other person will accept and take in. I doubt that an all out attack on religion will be any more effective or well-received than an all out attack on recreational drugs, by the people you seek to help.
no subject
The world is pretty harsh, and drugs as well as mysticism can embellish it with imaginary structures or niches, making it less scary (to those who like that sort of thing - for others mysticism or drugs are scary). Also, rationality doesn't offer any strong sense of purpose, and does lead superficially to some poor choices like extreme sadism or hedonism. We all create some kind of myth as to what we want to be, and religions, as well as other belief systems such as ideologies, offer material for that.
So, I think that the correct approach to faith is not that religious people are simply mistaken or gullible (though that category exists and need help) but rather that they are using a psychoactive drug called religion to cope with the world. Others use alcohol, modern fantasy, elaborate forms of sex. These are all mechanisms to cope with the harshness of reality.
We definitely need a society that deals with the conflict and destruction that these alternative myths or drugs would cause if their adherents were allowed to indulge to an unhealthy degree, or force them on others. Myths, particularly, benefit from being treated as fact by society, and that kind of encroachment must be stopped. Basically I'm saying use myths or drugs tolerantly and responsibly.
Beyond that you'd be perfectly right to say that some people would be better off with different myths or drugs, or with reduced dependency on either. If you wish to convert religious people to atheism for this reason, I think what you're doing is similar to making a drinker quit. You have to properly understand the psychological need fulfilled by the drug, and offer a different lifestyle that the other person will accept and take in. I doubt that an all out attack on religion will be any more effective or well-received than an all out attack on recreational drugs, by the people you seek to help.