Religion as brainwashing

I saw an atheist post recently that all religion was brainwashing. I argued the point, though the person was willing to concede nothing. I have since found that studies by Pew have found that depending on how you define it, over 40% of Americans change religion. Now some of that may be between mainline protestant, evangelical, and Catholicism. Still a steadily increasing number of people are unaffiliated and do not adhere to any specific religion, though they don't consider themselves atheists or agnostic either. That does not even account for changes between various denominations of Christianity within the three major grouping listed above. If religion is brainwashing, then it seems to be failing a lot of the time. For myself, I was raised as a mainline protestant Christian, but left that to follow Buddhism, Zen, and Taoism, before converting to Judaism. As a teen, I was rejecting Christian dogma, which led to my deciding that I could not in good faith consider myself Christian. None of any of this will convince the militant atheist of anything other than what they believe.

Bathroom Laws

Authorities have said that in jurisdictions where people are allowed to use restroom facilities corresponding to their gender identities, there has been NO increase in sexual assaults in restrooms - None.

But those are the facts and for some folks this is a fact free discussion.

As a man, do you want to share a restroom with someone in a dress and makeup? As a woman, do you want to share a restroom with someone who has facial hair, looks and dresses like a man? That is what you are trying to get with these 'restroom laws'.

The fact is that transgender individuals who use restrooms corresponding to their birth certificate, not their identity or attire are frequently harassed and bullied. Yes, I know you don't care about those people. You have the greatest disdain and disgust for them.

Still, they are human beings who deserve to be treated with dignity and deserve the chance to pee without being harassed for it.

Poor People are Lazy?

 The fact is that we don't all genuinely have equal opportunities. Those born rich are most likely to be successful and stay rich. Those born poor are most likely to stay poor.

It's hard to get ahead when you don't have the financial resources or opportunities to do so. It is easy to point at those who started with nothing and became a success, then tell others that they should be able to do so too.

Those by-their-bootstraps folks are notable BECAUSE they are the exception. Not every poor person can do so, and it isn't because they are lazy.

Doors are opened for some folks that are slammed in the faces of most poor people - most, not all.

Until we recognize that, until we accept that, until we act to change that, that will continue. That isn't because of ability, that isn't because of talent, that isn't because of effort. That is the structure of the system we live in.

Anti-theism

I'm Jewish, and really don't care whether other people believe as I do. I take a relaxed approach to it all, as most non-Orthodox Jews seem to. I don't think the Torah is literal truth. It was written in a time and place when society, such as it was, was far more cruel and primitive. Its purpose was to try to start to civilize people. No it doesn't reflect modern science and mores. Much of modern science was not known then, and most of the mores would not have been accepted then. It was a starting point - not an end point. That's just my opinion - take it as you will.

Still, I see atheists bashing all religion because the Bible reflects the society of its time, and not our time. Believe what you will and for whatever reasons you choose. Have the decency to not go around bashing all religion and all religious followers because you think Biblical stories are absurd (frankly all mythology is pretty absurd, along with some real life), or because some folks try to cloak their bigotry in religious belief. These atheists (not all, but some atheists) decry the cruelty in the Bible, while fomenting hatred of religion.

So long as my words or actions to not harm you or deny your rights, lighten up. Feel free to call out those specific words or actions by people which do harm others or deny them rights. I do that all the time - supporting progressive politics, LGBT, feminism, BLM, immigrants, and other religions or even lack thereof. That doesn't mean you should bash other people who are otherwise your allies because someone tries to use religion as a cover for discrimination.

Agenda

I guess I'm a knee-jerk leftist. I own guns and don't want them banned, but want more background checks along with limitations on high capacity clips and semi-automatic weapons.

I don't want abortion to be illegal, but am willing to accept some limitations on late term abortions, so long as there are exceptions for the health of the woman and the fetus.

I want more help for low income people - in the form of guaranteed jobs at a living wage.

I want the US to think twice or even three times before sending troops into another country.

When weapons systems don't work or when the Pentagon says they are not needed, I am in favor of cutting them.

I want the government to stop making money off college students who had to borrow to finance their education.

I want everyone to have access to decent health care - including a Medicare for all option. I want the government to be able to negotiate drug prices with pharmaceutical companies.

I'm in favor of free college education at state universities for students willing to work a reasonable number of years at a public service job - a civilian version of military college benefits.

I'd raise the cap on income taxable for social security. I'd push the top marginal tax rates up - well below the top rates during the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s (never below 70%) but perhaps to 45% or thereabouts.

We have an agricultural system based on the labor of immigrant workers. I'd expand the slot for legal migrant farm workers, and open citizenship to immigrants who have worked and lived in the US for years without engaging in criminal activity. (BTW - Immigration violations are civil offenses, not criminal offenses).