Real and Inexcusable Harm
In last week’s episode of The Atheist Experience, the final caller was a tragic example of the sort of real and inexcusable harm religion does. This sort of harm often goes unnoticed because the people being harmed are shamed by their friends and community into hiding their true beliefs and feelings. At approximately 1h 15m point, Dana in Florida calls and shares the tragic story of the relationship between herself and her sister. Both are battling serious health issues and are near the end of their lives. Dana’s sister is evangelical and Dana doesn’t believe — and not for lack of trying!
The tragedy is that Dana’s sister heard the rumor that Dana doesn’t believe anymore. Thanks to her religious beliefs, Sis decided to denounce and berate Dana for not being “right with God,” effectively destroying the lifelong relationship. Ironically, her sister probably thinks this is the best way to “help her.” Sis may be a perfectly good person, who has been convinced to do harmful things by the false and hurtful beliefs that religion taught her.
As a Secular Humanist, I see a lifelong friendship and family torn apart over senseless superstitions. Dana and her sister will spend their last years of life grieving the ruined relationship. Her sister will meet her end fearful that Dana will be tortured eternally in hell for the crime of being unable to believe (what kind of monster would do this?!). Dana must struggle through her winter years without the support of a once-loving sister.
It was devastating to hear the pain and suffering in Dana’s voice as she shared her story. It highlights the importance of work by American Atheists and the Recovering from Religion foundation do to help non-believers understand that we are not broken. That we don’t have to apologise to people for the fact that we don’t find their (or our former) religion believable.
