When step 2 intersects with capitalism, all the other stuff just naturally follows. Sure there are people who legitimately want to help people (read an article about 2 Christians giving up their high paying jobs to spend their time making affordable housing for the poor and indigenous people) but they're increasingly becoming the minority.

That said, money based religions are only one oppressive group that bands together for profit and control. Religions aren't much different than political parties (hence the smashup between many) and corporations, organized crime, etc.

Human nature, rather than being inherently good, tends to be inherently bad. Hence why most giant groups tend to be oppressive by nature. It's why I believe that there shouldn't be giant concentrations of wealth and power.

Yeah, it's ridiculous. American politicians literally swear on the bible as they assume office and then quote bible verses on the job and then they expect us to believe we're anywhere other than at that second from last step?

Karl Marx The German Ideology Preface

Hitherto have constantly made up for themselves false conceptions about themselves, about what they are and what they ought to be. They have arranged their relationships according to their ideas of God, of normal man, etc. The phantoms of their brains have got out of their hands. They, the creators, have bowed down before their creations. Let us liberate them from the chimeras, the ideas, dogmas, imaginary beings under the yoke of which they are pining away. Let us revolt against the rule of thoughts. Let us teach men, says one, to exchange these imaginations for thoughts which correspond to the essence of man; says the second, to take up a critical attitude to them; says the third, to knock them out of their heads; and -- existing reality will collapse.

I will never not quote this when people moan about antitheism

Learning about religion in school isn't necessarily a bad thing. We studied the major religions, Buddhism, pantheism, and to a lesser degree minor religions as a part of social studies in 7th grade. I think it was the first time anyone actually told me there were 'options' other than Christianity. More importantly, it helped me understand where others are coming from even though I don't share their faith. If it's approached from a purely educational standpoint I think religion does have a place in school - and I'm an atheist. We just shouldn't be presenting any of it as fact or "right" when it's all a matter of opinion, nor teaching them about any one specific religion and excluding others.

This post is arguing that we should not allow people to fucking quote: "freely worship their god" to prevent being sent to an internment camp, and you incels are eating it up.

All that’s missing is the “You are here” pointer at the second to last step.

This, but unironically

It feels quite strange reading this as a Jewish person.

I was taught about Islam in social studies, and I don't remember anybody trying to force me to obey Islamic law at any point.

I don't know whether there is a slippery slope, but I do know this isn't an accurate description of it.