Allegations Against Religious People
Religious Studies: KS3, topic 4.1.3
Allegations Against Religious People
Non-religious people accuse religious believers of gullibility, indoctrination, and relying on religion for coping.
Allegations
- Non-religious people believe that those who adhere to religious beliefs are less intelligent than those of no faith.
- This view argues that religious believers are gullible and blindly follow religious fables and superstition.
Indoctrination
- Atheists and humanists accuse religious adherents of being indoctrinated and being motivated by the fear of death.
- Indoctrinated means conforming to early socialisation.
- Indoctrination is a process of teaching someone to accept beliefs without questioning them.
‘Need’ motivated
- Religious people are accused of being ‘need’ motivated.
- 'Need' motivated means that people need structure; an authority figure; need to conform to societal expectations.
Coping mechanism
- Non-religious people see religion as a coping mechanism.
- Religion is laden with rituals, routines and superstitious beliefs to deal with difficult life issues and all forms of crisis.