Why This Blog?

Some of you know me as a former Jehovah's Witness. I grew up and was raised to believe that this was the only true religion. While being raised with morals by two loving parents helped me greatly, the ideas of a cult hurt me as well.

I have struggled to understand what I should do with what I know about this cult. (yeah, it is a cult. If that makes you uncomfortable, the phrase "high control group" might help) While having many dangerous doctrines and beliefs (no blood transfusions, an unwillingness to deal with pedophiles in their midst) Jehovah's Witnesses are far from the only group of its kind that promotes high unity "group think".

The Nazi's are recent history's most powerful example of what can happen when passion and ideology are allowed to run over the rights and abilities of individuals to think and act for themselves. Today, we see in the United States of America a concerted effort to legislate behavior and personal choices under the guise of "morality". This is a thinly disguised effort to enforce a religious philosophy on others, regardless of what such "nonbelievers" may actually think. It seems that many people, though vaguely uncomfortable in seeing personal freedoms backtrack, find comfort in knowing that "they are not alone". They might not be bothered by Atheists or Homosexuals, but they won't stand up to others when their rights are encroached and threatened.

It is my experience and belief that a minority of people actually do think for themselves. Truly thinking for oneself involves having a unique quality, intellectual honesty. I am not talking about elitism. I am talking about the ability to look in the mirror and have the ability to know who you really are, what you really think, and not be afraid to say that the emperor has no clothes. It might mean admitting that you don't know everything, that your beliefs (inherited, learned, or otherwise) on how the world is may not be as the world is. Frequently, our own passions and beliefs reveal more about who we are then the pragmatic reality of the world today.

I have talked to thousands of people in my life thus far on religion. I don't begrudge anyone their beliefs. For many, a belief in god is literally a life saver. Yet, for many more, religion and "faith" is nothing more then an exercise in superstition. For others who are scared to think for themselves, religion and faith is a way to believe in something that a group believes without putting in the work for knowing why you believe what you do. Lets face it, it is easier to be with a hundred people who vaguely agree then to be the one person in the room who sees it differently and disagrees.

This blog will not be about the existence or non existence of god or a higher power. It is all about the danger of superstitious thought, the dangers of letting others think for you, and why organized religion, while having some legitimate benefits, must at the same time be held accountable for the continued ignorance and hate mongering we see in the world today. I will frequently comment on the group I know best, Jehovah's Witnesses. But the lessons learned from this group can easily be applied to other high control groups and walks of life.

Superstitions Antidote is simple: Examine the facts, let them speak, and be honest with yourself. We all must accept responsibility for who we are and our life. Life is too short to let others make your decisions for you.