Myth Three: Marriage, Marriage, Marriage, Need I Say More?

The Religious Mind

…Before delving into the conclusion of this myth, I'd like to shed light on the psychology of the religious mind. If you hail from a religious background, what I'm about to share will likely resonate with you; if not, this commentary should offer valuable insights into why religious individuals sometimes appear impervious to various truths, including scientific understanding. You see, the religious mindset is inherently oriented toward approval—not just divine approval but also social approval from what is often termed the "family of God."

In the context of the New Testament, one of the most severe ramifications for sinful conduct, aside from the perpetual dread of hell, is the jeopardy of being cast out from the Church. Apostasy is thus not merely a self-inflicted spiritual severance from God but a disconnection from family, friends, and the broader community. This dynamic functions as a form of carrot and stick—conform to the expectations and earn the reward of intimacy, arguably one of the deepest human needs. Conversely, deviate from the path, and you'll be cast into the isolating wilderness of social ostracism.

The religious mind is so deeply ingrained with this carrot-and-stick paradigm that it becomes exceedingly difficult to break free from the fetters of religious oppression. For many, fleeting moments of clarity about the absurdity of their religious convictions are ultimately quashed by the terror of becoming a social outcast. They thus opt for a damning course of willful ignorance—a path that, without genuine self-examination and change, leaves them in a perpetual state of disassociation, unable to reconcile their spiritual aspirations with the natural world. The few who manage to break free often find themselves propelled by such intense resentment and anger that they swing to the other end of the ideological spectrum. These individuals often emerge as militant atheists, their newfound freedom marred by a spiteful disdain for any suggestion of life's mysteries or hopeful possibilities.