Theism is a drug

It occurs to me that theism is a dangerous and very addictive drug that afflicts a huge number of people, has done so for centuries, and wreaks havoc on lives, families, communities, cultures, and civilization. A major portion of the truly evil acts that have been perpetrated by people throughout history were religiously motivated. And that situation is not getting better-- it's getting worse.

Like a drug addict, the theist can not be trusted, cannot be relied upon, and basically can't return to rationality. Once they've posited an all-knowing, all-powerful entity who created and inhabits and controls all of the universe there's no way to retrieve their mind to useful constructive patterns. Once you've crossed the line and allowed the first supernatural belief, the rest come easier. Three steps away from the awe inspired by a starry night, lies the murder of gynecologists, invasion of Iraq, beatings, and burnings, and beheadings, and eventually, I assume, the end of the world-- because when some idiot in the White House or elsewhere finally pushes the doomsday button, they will be motivated to that insanity by some other-worldly, supernatural, and apocalyptic idea that to end all civilization is better than to live under the "wrong" brand of God. Theism destroys because irrationality destroys.

It's all ridiculously stupid, and it can be avoided. We need 12 step programs to wean people away from the easy abdication of reason to theism. We need to stop allowing our society's institutions to enable them-- no more religion on TV, no more tax exemption for churches, no more sanctimonious religious observances to accompany official public ceremonies. No more "in god we trust," because the very appearance of the name of god should be an indicator of ignorance and irrationality. Religiously motivated crime should be doubly punished, just as a crime committed in the process of feeding a drug habit is doubly punished. Unfrock the pushers of irrationality wherever they speak. I'm serious here.