Reply #39: Organized religion has a formula... [View All]

that works very well and makes it close to impossible for a society of unbelievers to emerge. One of the successes of the Enlightenment which led to the founding of the US was replacing religion with reason. It only takes 2 generations to build a tradition in a single community. The biggest threat is secular social services and religious/cultural diversity which is why many major cities have the highest number of non-believers. They do have success in neighborhoods as one can see in NYC for example.

It is pure psychology and human nature. People have needs and whoever fulfills those needs will become the popular and powerful.

Marxism is feared by all organized religions because the needs of humans that have historically been used by religion to gain adherents are taken care of by the secular state. All non-religious movements that provide social services and fellowship(unions, freemason lodges, ethnic clubs, etc..)are a potential threat.

States with official religions are not so much a threat because theists are easier to convert/control.(except for the Jewish people)

In the US, Mormons are a good case to study as is Scientology since both have used the "formula" successfully.(Christian Scientists and Jehovah Witnesses are two other cases documented using the formula)

Secular movements have been less successful since they immediately are ganged up upon by all the different religions whenever they gain traction. The Fellowship foundation in DC a/k/a The Family is the "cabal" which keeps secularism in check.