Claiming The Moral High Ground

If you believe that the world is flat and held up by turtles; or that the Earth is the centre of the universe; or that it was created by a supernatural dictator six thousand years ago; or even that your god is a benevolent old bearded chap up in the sky whose angels are looking after you - then nothing any rational thinking person can say will ever change that. Nevertheless, just imagine being a parent whose child suddenly announces that he or she wanted to join an organisation whose Prime Aims are (a) the indoctrination of young children; and (b) the quest for world domination. Would you permit this?

You investigate and find this group likes to publicly identify itself with peace, love, charity, magnificent architecture and beautiful music - but is also routinely linked with one or more of the following: pedophelia, mysogeny, homophobia, sexual immorality, polygamy, rape, murder, 'honour' killings, stonings, public beheadings, suicide bombings, floggings, kidnappings, hi-jackings, incest, child brides, genital mutilation, immoral behaviour, blackmail, tax avoidance, embezzlement and accumulation of obscene wealth, property and power.

You find that the group is subdivided into countless different sub-belief systems which argue irrationally amongst themselves, creating divisions and encouraging warfare. The group's practitioners ritually drink the blood of a 2000 year old dead person; and their leaders dress up in flowing robes and silly hats to increase their authority and influence over people.

A group that accepts only the science that suits it's batty beliefs; that denies scientific facts which do not meet it's own wacky criteria; that provides no evidence to back it's extraordinary claims; that recycles primitive dogma & unsophisticated medieval beliefs; and that blackmails it's own members & sometimes even punishes them with death if they try to leave.

A group that seeks exemption from regulations that all other community groups have to follow; that wants to control the child education system; that exercises undue inluence on government policy-making; and already fully controls at least two world states.

A group whose sordid history is one of (well-documented) violent suppression of free thinking people & sciencific methods; promotion of bigotry and intolerance; and violence & sexual abuse against children.

A group that has it's own holy books from which members of different sub-belief systems can cherry-pick the bits that suit them; and discard the rest as symbolic or no longer relevant.

A group that encompasses all the above - whilst always claiming the moral high ground! Of course you wouldn't encourage your family members to join such a group, would you?

If they go to church, then you probably already have.