Christians are indoctrinated from childhood to obey any authority that speaks the way their pastor does, and to ignore the evidence of their eyes and ears to believe what they are told.

So it's always awkward interacting with Christians, i can correct some of their shitty behavior by explaining how it would hurt them, but the conversation that their core beleifs are a control mechanism abused by conmen is impossible to broach.

It makes me sad because religion is so important to so many people, but it wouldn't be if they weren't indoctrinated against their will as children.

In many christian traditions the "confess Jesus as savior" can also be done after this life when standing before Jesus, basically at the gates of heaven. At that point it's really just a formality, and doing that right now instead of in the next life is exactly what you describe what it means to you: a way to live a better life right now.

I had the misfortune of needing to attend a "Christian" university for a short while due to visa reasons in the US, the vomit inducing cult speak they do at every opprtunity at a institute that's about education and science was appalling, imagine the kids who have to grow up in such an environment, no wonder the country is so fucked up right now

Sorry, but it's true. I'm afraid you're going to have to take it up with a higher authority than me (i.e. the dictionary people) if you want to change how the word is used.

It's the word for changing someone's belief system not, as you seem to think, giving someone a new belief system.

Sorry, but I'm correct here.

Also, here's additional lesson for you - you started your reply admitting that the question was asked in bad faith, that I did spot what you were talking about, and that you do know that I'm talking about atheism. Then you finish with "so my question stands".

No it doesn't. You understood fully what I was talking about in both the post you replied to and my response. So it doesn't stand - you already knew the answer.

Look, I don't mind you having a crack at being Mr I'm-Very-Clever-Catch-You-Out-On-Word-Meanings, but at least do it well.

Maintain eye contact and reply "Same to you."

I get what you're saying, but you're wrong. I've used the word correctly. Genuinely, look it up.

I've never been to the US, but from what I've heard, I don't doubt for a second that the climate is a bit more aggressive over there.

One of my best friends is christian and I didn’t even know for years because it wasn’t relevant and they are a reasonable person.

You did not. Notice how every example has a direction associated with it

con·​ver·​sion kən-ˈvər-zhən -shən
Synonyms of conversion
1: the act of converting : the process of being converted

2: an experience associated with the definite and decisive adoption of a religion

3a: the operation of finding a converse in logic or mathematics

b: reduction of a mathematical expression by clearing of fractions

4: a successful attempt for a point or points especially after a touchdown or for a first down

5: something converted from one use to another

6: gene conversion

Examples of conversion in a Sentence

The company is undergoing a **conversion to ** a new computer system.

They have suggested conversion of the old school into apartments.

Conversion to gas heating will continue over the next few years.

a conversion from Catholicism to Judaism

He is thinking about conversion to Buddhism.

"What do you mean? He watches me from the corner every time I'm masturbating."

Isn't there someone you forgot to ask? [Motions towards where the divine should be]

Religious leaders there openly brag about having gold shoes and private jets…

Oh you are? Ok enjoy your block

Anarchy is just a stepping stone to fascism, grow up

How does saying that such hostile treatment is abnormal "erase" anyone's lived experiences?

If you tell someone who lived only eating one meal a day during elementary school that they did not have a normal childhood, you are directly commenting ON their "lived experience", not erasing it.

You seem to be conflating "that's not normal" with "that never happens", which is not reasonable.

OK, let's go through the motions.

"Conversion to atheism"

Ah, but atheism isn't a belief system, it's the absence of one.

Yes I know, I'm not asserting that atheism is a belief system or a religion or anything like that

But you used the word conversion, as if it was a religion

Yes because you're trying to change my beliefs and win me over to your way of thinking. Conversion is the correct word.

But atheism is the default human position, so you can't convert to it

Humans are social creatures. World views, philosophies and beliefs are cultural, not biological. Atheism is no more the default position than English is the default language. Whatever you start off with, that's your default position.

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I'm sorry for putting words in your mouth here, and I hope I haven't put up a strawman argument, but like I said - conversion really is the correct word.

I realise I mightn't have won you over, and that's fine, but this is a mad thing to get hung up on.

BTW, I do appreciate you doing the legwork and actually digging out the definition.

Personally, I'm an atheist (anti-theist to be more precise), but I'll say that in my experience catholic christians tend to be less culty than protestant christians. Probably has something to do with the part that catholics believe that they actually have to be good vs protestants believing that simply believing is all you need.

Similarly, I'm an antitheist pagan. it's fun.

I once had a study partner who was raised like that. We were scheduling our first after school study session and trying to figure out time. I shoot out sunday and he goes "nah I have church, wait don't you have church?" "nah, I'm an atheist"

dude vanished. Three days later I notice him trying to like... hide in a hoodie towards the opposite side of the class. I walk over, worried I offended him or something. He basically tells me that he can't interact with satanists and I just go "look, if you don't wanna interact with me, don't. You don't have to hide in a corner or try to avoid me. If you wanna draw the line at just existing in the same room, ok then."

To his credit, he did try to have a study session with me after that, but I had to end it early. The dude was so on edge, it was like he was convinced I was gonna stab him at any moment.

Years later he contacted me to apologize out of the blue on facebook. Went completely off grid traveling the world. My guess trying to compensate for just how little he knew of it.

Well yeah, most theists and atheists are agnostic.

Which makes it a rather pointless label.

Idk, Catholic services and practices are waaaay cultier than protestant ones. I mean, they all have pictures in their homes of the same white guy wearing a giant ceremonial hat and robe who lives in his own special nation. As a firm agnostic, I don't have a horse in this race, but my experience differs greatly from yours. They're all mild hobbyists compared to evangelicals anyway.