What enticed me about Gnosticism is that it was an undercurrent of Christianity that was around since the beginning and only became extinct in the 13th century with the Cathars.

As an undercurrent it carried much of the ideals that we now believe to be common in the post Enlightenment West. Such as the equality of the genders, the lack of original sin, and the importance of self-determination.

The Albigensian Crusaders did nothing wrong.

To be honest I'm not even a huge fan of the Cathars and the Madaean strain of Gnosticism in general.

The Cathars were just a bunch of celibate catholic hippies.

I prefer the earlier Judeo-Christian form of Gnosticism found in the early days of Christianity.

Fact: There is a direct correlation between a country’s life expectancy and it’s aethisim population.

Fact: Correlation does not imply causation.

Fact: There is also a correlation between the percentage of people who say religion has a meaningful impact on their lives and average GDP per capita with the US being the exception

The common theme of all religion is human immortality through the afterlife.

why is there no fedora emojii

Fact: the common factor in all religions is a beginning to the universe, an end to the universe, a higher power and an afterlife.

Fact: There is a correlation between countries with high amounts of secure people and aethiest population. By secure I mean the odds of being born as someone who does not have to worry about their survival each day

Aethist attempt to corrilate IQ and aethisim but I don’t think that’s the case. I do not believe the issue is intellectual. It’s more likely to suggest that the issue of faith based thinking is existential

Fact: the common factor in all religions is a beginning to the universe, an end to the universe, a higher power and an afterlife.

Preeety sure there's at least one religion that doesn't have all four of those traits.

If your talking about Hinduism then it cycles, but there is still a clear origin story which signifies a “beginning”

There is a beginning to the universe, it is called the big-bang. We know entropy exists so there will be a heat death of the universe, many religions have higher powers but these often can be more like conceptual abstractions than actual beings with temporal powers, and not all religions have afterlives.

WTF?

many, not most

Seriously, Nerdy. Words...no words...

Fact, oxygen is the most carcinogenic substance in nature. Stop breathing and I will absolutely guarantee you that you will not die of cancer.

the number 1 cause of drowning is water

ban water

Now to find a bunny with a pancake on its head...

Absolutely, Aktricast! How could I have failed to note that!

Countries with high atheist populations also seem to have issues with mass migration

France is 40% atheist/areligious, they are sure doing well maintaining their national integrity and sanctity.

I believe Japan is about 50% (or more) atheist, so it's a useless correlation either way

Japan has a strong traditional culture that allows that

living is the number 1 cause of death

ban living

Id argue its not a relligion thing. Its a culture thing

agreed

Typically those go hand in hand though.

Japan is very xenophobic

And they also wiped out most of their christians in the feudal states period

Made sense, Christianity was a threat to their system

Which is my point, their culture is one on pride

what xenophobic even means?
if you dont want to be over run by immigrants you are xenophobic?

literally the definition, jasse

They respect and love their culture

Also I didnt mean it negatively so no need te be defensive