But why? Why is it impossible for someone who lives a moral, ethical, compassionate existence based solely on an intrinsic desire to do so rather than adherence to hopelessly antiquated messages in ancient texts that basically try to scare you into being good — children's tales that are so utterly transparent with their "reward/punishment" motif that my 7-year-old is beginning to question them?
It's a question I have trouble answering. The 60s and 70s seemed to be decades of social and societal rebirth on a myriad of topics: Civil rights, women's rights, government corruption, sexuality, pointless wars, etc. There seemed a real momentum in this country to take a more liberal, accepting look at people and the world. Everything I know about that era screams of future religious (or atheist) tolerance.
I just want to know why.
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