I was gonna say...

In response to your last post ....

It's not actually religion; it's idealism of any kind which surrounds make-believe. Nationalism, moon landings, sales meetings, sales figures, sports, manufacturing, science ............... anything at all where a group of people combine their minds and efforts to pursue some goal, will be subject to the same abuses. It's counter productive for anyone in the group to have thoughts which are at odds with those goals and any one who doesn't toe the line and echo the party mantra and BELIEVE in the groups thinking ..... is going to be castigated.

Generally we're herd-oriented and follow the strongest leaders. Our beliefs are shaped by group-think REGARDLESS of how individuals might suppose that they get their own inspiration from/by themselves or from a god somewhere.

In essence, our drive for living comes FROM make-belief. If it weren't God, it would have to be something else because make-believe is what keeps us motivated to do stuff.

To me, the closest "answer" to the problem of ostracization is for us to REALIZE that we DO make-belief. If you know that your beliefs are not TERRIBLY important then ............ maybe you'll have respect for my DIFFERING belief ....... and vice-versa?

-Vince