Some might call it weak or whatever, but I don't think believing in something that makes you happy is wrong, even if what you believe in isn't true (as long as you don't hurt anyone else I don't care what you do or what you believe). Of course now I'm over it, but my girlfriend seems to be only now realizing it and seems to have a much harder time with it.
Well, but it only shows the consequences of such deep rooted beliefs, it doesn't change the fact it's not quite the best way to stay uhm happy.
Don't forget that the fanatics usually have a leader. They follow their leader. What your saying is pretty much if we take away guns the people using guns as a weapon to commit murders will stop killing. But I think you would agree they would just find a new weapon.
Yes, of course there are leaders, but fact remains religion among certain other things makes people vulnerable to such leaders. A leader without something he could people convince into believing, is a powerless leader.
Going back to that quote, one could say since you might not be worried about going to hell then people might go out and kill. Of course your going to argue not all atheists go out and kill and don't worry about consequences, but that's when I would agree and say not all religious people go out and start wars.
I was talking about groups of people, not individuals. Even people not believing in God might end up in a straight jacket environment after having done God knows what kind of crazy violent stuff. But.. what if that particular atheist would somehow easily convince others of his insane ideas? He would be equally as dangerous, but there's nothing as powerful as religion when it comes to controlling the masses,
Cheers
