I needed a shower after watching that shit. Absolutely skin crawling and stomach churning. Give The Family on Netflix or Under the Banner of Heaven (based on a true story) sometime. Random thoughts about religion in general...
* I don't care what/who anyone chooses to worship as long as they aren't harming others, either physically, emotionally or financially. They can worship at the web of THE Amazing Spider-Man for all I care.
* Are there many instances of sexual abuse in organized/disorganized religion? Yes, that's undeniable. Hell, my mom's cousin was a dedicated church Deacon and long time pedophile who was finally arrested and sent to prison after two of his victims came forward. How did he hook up with those two? Through church activities.
* Do religious people or atheists get in your face? I've never had an atheist automatically assume I'm an atheist and ask me which atheist club I attend, then give me a smug, reproachful look when I tell them I just consider myself a non-believer and proceed to tell me I should consider finding a good atheist club and/or invite me to theirs. I've never had atheists leave literature on my front door, on my vehicle, in a restroom stall or other public place extolling the virtues of being an atheist while telling me I was going to be in a world of hurt if I didn't. I've never had atheists approach me while working in the yard or ringing the doorbell wanting to talk to me about atheism. I've also never seen an atheist with a bullhorn on a street corner or even wearing a sammidge board on the bridge going across the Cumberland River to Titans Stadium while screaming that bad shit is going to happen to people who don't convert to atheism.
* Is religion a cult? It can be if you let it devolve into that. Again, watch some of the documentaries and look at the "leaders" of various religions and the mega churches. I used to bowl in a league for a mining supply company back in VA in the early 80s. There was a guy on our team named Don, who was a preacher. Don didn't look down his nose at the rest of us. He didn't try to convert anyone. He always took Fred Newton's barrage of off-color, mostly cringeworthy jokes in stride. Don had a small church and was always helping members of his congregation and volunteering in the community. Don always had a kind word and a smile on his face, and in his spare time, he spent 40+ hours a week delivering bread and stocking shelves for Kern's Bakery in local stores. Don is a good example of what religion should be about. Be like Don.
* Last, but certainly not least, of all the wonderful things our parents did for me and my brother, the thing I'm most grateful for is that they never indoctrinated us into religion.
