Religion is a Mental Illness

Wow, I’m so sorry to hear that. That’s got to be difficult, coming from someone you care about. I get needing to rant. it’s not fair that you can be a good person, but condemned for something so irrelevant.

Religion poisons people, and it divides. It takes someone who is probably otherwise very caring and considerate, and gets them to think and spit out vile, hateful things about people - and in this case, someone very close to her - and do so in a way where they can feel righteous and good for thinking this way about other human beings. It’s absolutely de-humanizing to both the believer, that this is a reasonable way to think, and the non-believers this venom is targeted at. It’s utter poison.

The secret of Xtian “love and kindness” is that it’s reserved entirely for their own in-crowd, those within the cult/clique. Nobody does venomous spite delivered with pious sanctimony quite like the religious.

Even when they say otherwise, their care and consideration is always conditional, for the simple fact that unless you sign up with their little group, you will not be going to their (imaginary) heaven with them. Instead, you’ll be going to the (equally imaginary) intergalactic torture room.

This is where the conditional love kicks in: they’re not just okay with all of this, they agree with it and worship the creature who came up with it. No matter how caring they claim to be, how much unconditional love they say they have, when you ask them if they agree with their god that you deserve to suffer for eternity for simply being unconvinced, they never give the right answer. They deflect, misdirect and lie. And there is a right answer.

I’m sure there’s some cafeteria Xtians out there with “but that’s not real Xtianity!1!!one!” locked and loaded and ready on the tip of their tongue. Many of them, having never read the entire bible, have no idea that aside from this being nothing but a No True Scotsman fallacy, the attitude of division and hate is completely biblical and exactly what the Jesus character was aiming for:

The objective of this “Jesus”, meek and mild, was the megalomaniacal desire that everyone should make him their number one priority over everyone and everything else in the world, and that families should disintegrate if anyone isn’t on board with this form of servitude.

Division is baked into Xtian dogma. It sees everybody as either in or out of the clique, as being the saved or the sinners, celebrates both slavery in heaven and torture in hell, and demands praise and worship for the imaginary creature who supposedly came up with this abomination of an idea in the first place.

For what it’s worth, this is also true of most religions, including Judaism and Islam, declaring themselves the “Chosen,” necessarily meaning everyone else is un-chosen, not of their god, and unworthy. Feeling special by looking down on everyone else.

Coming out as an atheist seems to have a number of parallels with coming out as gay. I’ve written a few times previously about this, both for those who haven’t yet, and those who have recently. Particularly for younger people.

From context, it seems like you’re still an under-age minor? You may find these two relevant:

Perhaps instead of feeling angry and hurt at her, pity her. She has this toxic poison running around her body, which makes her think and say terrible, hurtful things. Like Religious Tourette’s Syndrome. Instead, do for her what she cannot do, what her religion makes her incapable of doing for others and be the love and kindness that Xtianity denies her. Her beliefs have made her turn her back on humans, to reject embracing and valuing humanity. Including her own.

Xtianity in particular fosters this anti-humanity. The aforementioned (and bible-quoted) Jesus and “god” attitudes are about coercing compliance, and it’s done by seeking approval, meaning and value through an imaginary higher authority (by way of the religious authority that claim to represent it). Put all yourself into “god” and “Jesus”, empty out all of yourself, your self-esteem, your full emotional experience and pour it into a non-existent vessel. Fixate on glorifying this imaginary sky beast instead of living a full life as a fully formed human being.

When they convince you to devalue your own humanity, to be ashamed and apologetic for merely existing as a human, it becomes natural to devalue everybody else as well.

Katie and Joe from the Born Again Again podcast have talked about this at length, in many of their episodes, but particularly this one:

I would encourage you to take a listen to their podcast, as it may help you to understand and deal with your mother, and as they also have to deal with religious family, perhaps give you some tips on doing likewise, particularly if/when you’re able to be yourself, when you’re able to set up your life independently, and be able to stand your ground on your boundaries.

Your mother is certainly a victim of this, having been indoctrinated into this hate cult and taught that this poisonous malice is pious, humble and noble. She’s been infected with this disease that ruins lives, both her own and people around her. She has a problem. And it is her problem, not yours. You cannot make it yours, you cannot take it upon yourself to solve or try to address it.

The only thing that you can do is figure out how to survive it. And ultimately, once you’re independent, to decide how much, if any of it, you’re prepared to put up with.

The most important thing you can do for right now though, is look after yourself, both mentally and in regards to your future.

If you ever need to talk or vent, I’m here.

And as they say, it does get better.