Religious dogma has historically led to conflict, violence, and human rights abuses. Dogma refers to principles that are considered absolutely true but are unable to be proven. Indoctrinating children in dogmatic religious beliefs shapes their brains in ways that make alternative views difficult to accept later in life. While religion itself may provide benefits, dogma from any system is problematic as it inhibits critical thinking and justifies treating other groups as absolutely wrong. Secularism need not oppose spirituality but argues separating religion from government authority promotes diversity and cooperation.

1. Religious Dogma &
Disbelief“On the dogmas of religion as distinguished from moral principles, all mankind,
from the beginning of the world to this day, have been quarrelling, fighting, burning
and torturing one another, for abstractions unintelligible to themselves and to all
others, and absolutely beyond the comprehension of the human mind.”
- Thomas Jefferson, 1816

2. Defining Dogma
Dogma is defined as, “A principle or set of principles laid down by an authority as
incontrovertibly true,” with incontrovertibly true referring something is “not able to be denied or
disputed” (Oxford Pocket Dictionary, 2010)

3. The Problem with Dogma
We’re living in an increasingly diverse world
with countless systems of belief and disbelief
Religious dogma has been, and remains, the
primary source for conflict in this world,
leading to the death, torture, abuse and rape
of countless men, women, children and
animals
Religion is a cultural system. Cultural
systems are learned and dependent on the
cultural space one is born into. Therefore,
religious dogma is learned.
Unlike other cultural systems, religion is
relies of faith rather than empirical evidence,
making the justification of a particular faith as
the “right one” impossible.
“The way to see by faith is to shut they eye of
reason” - Benjamin Franklin

5. Indoctrination
“to teach someone to fully accept the ideas, opinions, and beliefs of a
particular group and to not consider other ideas, opinions, and beliefs”
(Oxford Pocket Dictionary, 2012)

6. The Problem with
Indoctrination
The brain’s ability to think critically about
incoming information does not develop until
adolescence, leaving children extremely
vulnerable.
Due to the brain’s plasticity, which is greatest
during childhood, neural networks are being
shaped around these beliefs, making them
harder to change as the brain develops.
We’re all born in disbelief, these things are
learned.
Religious dogma has been shown to inhibit
one’s intelligence & critical thinking abilities, and
in some cases, lead to mental illness.

8. Dogma & Conflict: Indoctrination
Trailer for the 2006 Award-Winning Documentary:
“Jesus Camp,” which documents the indoctrination of
children into Christianity

9. Dogma & Conflict: Indoctrination
& Homosexuality
Trailer for the 2013 Award-Winning Documentary:
“God Loves Uganda,” which cover American Evangelicals efforts to make
homosexuality punishable by death in other countries.

10. Dogma & Conflict: Church
& State
Video Discussing Birmingham Police Chief AC
Roper’s Recent Public Endorsement of Christianity

11. Separation of Church & State is
the essence is which our country
was founded upon…

12. Dogma & Conflict: Violence,
Hatred & Discrimination
Relgious dogma
has fueled the
creation use of the
majority of the
world’s torture
devices…
Video: Medieval Christian Torture Devices
Video: Getting Along Before Religion. Family Guy
It remains the primary source
of conflict, hatred, violence,
war, and discrimination in this
world…

13. I will make my arrows
drunk with blood, while
my sword devours flesh:
the blood of the slain and
the captives, the heads of
the enemy leaders.” -
Yahweh (Christian god)
Deuteronomy 32:42

14. "If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and
children, brothers and sisters--yes, even their own life--such a person
cannot be my disciple.” - Jesus Christ, Luke 14:26

15. But is Religion the Problem?
Ending from Bill Maher’s “Religulous” Documentary
“ If you belonged to a political party or a social club that was tied to as much bigotry, misogyny, homophobia,
violence, and sheer ignorance as religion is, you'd resign in protest.” - Bill Maher, Religulous

16. No, Dogma is the Problem
Numerous religious and spiritual traditions
exist without dogma, coexisting peacefully
with one another.
A spiritual practice can bring with it many
benefits and provide insight to meanings
which lie beyond the realm of science.
Secularists need to take care to
communicate their position and not lump all
religions together.
Dogma can exist within any belief system,
whether religious or secular. Secularists
need to take care not to create dogmatic
system of their own.

17. “It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to
recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences”
- Audre Lorde, 1994