Mike Dulak grew up Catholic in Southern California, but by his teen years, he began skipping Mass and driving straight to the shore to play guitar, watch the waves and enjoy the beauty of the morning. “And it felt more spiritual than any time I set foot in a church,” he recalled.

Nothing has changed that view in the ensuing decades.

“Most religions are there to control people and get money from them,” said Dulak, now 76, of Rocheport, Missouri. He also cited sex abuse scandals in Catholic and Southern Baptist churches. “I can’t buy into that,” he said.

  • Senuf
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    6
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    Although all religions are useless and shouldn’t have any privilege, only to be practiced in their own spaces, I am aware that not all religions compete in a proselytistic way. I understand that, for example, Judaism doesn’t proselytise and that “converting” to Judaism is even a long and difficult process, which makes me think it is like discouraging conversion, in some way, by making it so uphill.

    • TheCee@programming.dev
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      4
      arrow-down
      5
      ·
      edit-2
      1 year ago

      Pretty sure you can be born into judaism, though. Chances are, it is even the default scenario with even semi-religious parents.

      That’s not “keeping to yourself” to me. That’s like passing the cigarettes to your kids.

      • Senuf
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        4
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        1 year ago

        Yeah, I agree, to a certain point. Most Jewish people I know, though, aren’t religious at all but for following certain traditions that don’t even include eating kosher food. Of course that doesn’t include orthodox Jews, but I don’t know any.

        As for the training of it (“That’s not “keeping to yourself” to me. That’s like passing the cigarettes to your kids” and the “default scenario”), well, it’s the default upbringing in every family. Besides exceptions, conservative parents will raise conservative kids because that’s their growing environment, the same with more liberal ones, etc. That’s not proselytising, it’s a while different thing

        • TheCee@programming.dev
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          3
          arrow-down
          1
          ·
          1 year ago

          That’s not proselytising, it’s a while different thing

          I don’t see your point. How is brainwashing children ok when wololo-ing people is not? Even from an egocentric perspective, you have to live in a society.

          • Senuf
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            2
            ·
            edit-2
            1 year ago

            I never said brainwashing children was ok as far as I can recall. Would you mind pointing at the part where I said so it or even implied so?

            What I said is that that isn’t proselytising. It’s a different concept to raise your kids in a certain way and to go to others who already have a different faith (or none) and try to convince them to convert.

            Of course, I know that everyone is born without any religion and by that account the limit is blurred, yet to raise a kid into one’s own faith and/or traditions is not the same as proselytising.

            As for Judaism, I stand by what I said: it’s not proselytist in the way other religions are, trying to convert other people. I don’t judge it as bad or as good, I don’t care. I just state a fact as I’ve seen/read.

            Edit: word

            • TheCee@programming.dev
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              2
              arrow-down
              2
              ·
              1 year ago

              I never said brainwashing children was ok as far as I can recall.

              Fair enough, you didn’t. I apologize. I lost track of the chain of posters and mixed you up with the first poster who didn’t seem to recognize the dangers of passing belief to children.

              As for Judaism, I stand by what I said: it’s not proselytist in the way other religions are, trying to convert other people. I don’t judge it as bad or as good, I don’t care. I just state a fact as I’ve seen/read.

              That may be case. Which is possibly why, historically speaking, Judaism doesn’t seem to be on the winning side. Which is bad, because it means opportunities for more fanatical, agressive religions.

              • Senuf
                link
                fedilink
                arrow-up
                1
                arrow-down
                1
                ·
                1 year ago

                Apologies accepted, of course.

                That may be case. Which is possibly why, historically speaking, Judaism doesn’t seem to be on the winning side. Which is bad, because it means opportunities for more fanatical, agressive religions.

                On one hand, I agree. Yet I think that had Judaism been more proselytist, it would have gained more followers and, probably, been more fanatical and aggressive. I mean, ultraorthodix Jews are as fanatical as your fellow Taliban or the right-wing Christians.

                Thanks for this exchange of opinions.

                • TheCee@programming.dev
                  link
                  fedilink
                  arrow-up
                  2
                  ·
                  1 year ago

                  Yet I think that had Judaism been more proselytist, it would have gained more followers and, probably, been more fanatical and aggressive.

                  Yes, that’s what I’m counting on, since I assume that ideas like religions take part in a long-term process of evolution. Unfortunately, the most whackiest, edgiest religions seem to be the most fit. Therefore my answer to the top level post.

                  • Senuf
                    link
                    fedilink
                    arrow-up
                    2
                    ·
                    1 year ago

                    I agree.

                    And your phrasing (italics are mine)

                    ideas like religions take part in a long-term process of evolution.

                    was quite interesting. Was it an intended pun? It made me laugh.