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Comment by calebm | Hacker News Reader

As someone who grew up in a very traditional fundamentalist church (preacher's kid), I think the religious extremism mindset is the problem - the "We're the right ones, and they other people are evil" mindset. Both sides have virtues and flaws. And as long as both sides are demonizing each other, the amplitude will continue to increase.

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You're conflating religion with the use of it by some to get, maintain or increase their power.

Most religions emphasize humility and have at their best been used to prevent tyranny. Judging is definitely OK, it's actually needed. But you know you might be wrong and you don't impose your views on others. That's how we got liberalism.

For instance, all the Abrahamic monotheisms have at their core the idea of the intrinsic value of each individual human as they are made "in the image of God".

I'm not meaning to bash spiritual beliefs (I believe we're all part of One God - "members of the body of Christ"). But I believe darkness works strongly in many religious groups (both traditional and progressive). Here's the sort of darkness I'm speaking of:

Things demons say:

* This life doesn't matter. * Don't think for yourself. * How could anyone be so stupid? * The darkness is dangerous - don't explore those dark corners - don't ask questions. * Nothing is how it should be - everything is wrong. * Truth is very simple - I have no need to look any further.

"Most religions emphasize humility" for real? You read the same history books as I have? I think you're conflating theology with religion. Religion is a blood soaked tool to control the masses.

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