A Religion/rollercoaster Analogy

[TheOtherRainMan]

Imagine you and your significant other are at an old amusement park's closing day . You just finished riding the park's famous-but-older roller coaster for a fourth time. This ride is also your favorite ride. You've been on it four times and each time, you've begin to notice that the coaster's support is really weak more and more and looks like it may give way. Knowing what might happen, you warn the attendant and the manager. They all say to you that it's been looked over, it won't give way, and that everyone is safe. You then ask the heads if its been checked, they say yes. Seeing that it's been looked into, you decide that it's safe and you decide to go on for a fifth time.

 

Now, as you are in line for a fifth time (you come back about 2 hours later) and you notice that the support is even weaker and REALLY looks like it will give way. You decide that its not safe to go on, but your significant other (along with everyone else in line) doesn't think so. They think that it's held for quite a while and it won't give way. They also agree with the management. You warn that the ride's support will give way and that going on the ride might possibly be fatal.

 

Then again, you start to question what you thought about the ride.

 

Hell, you are no physics student.

You don't have concrete evidence that it will give way.

 

...And it hasn't given way... yet.

 

Now comes the tough part.

Your significant other has already boarded the ride along with others and the attendant at the station is getting mad.

They eventually yell at you saying to get outta line or to get on.

 

Knowing both sides, I leave you with this question....

 

Do you get on, or do you stay off?

 

Now, most with common sense and (basic) critical thinking, would heed the warnings and get off.

 

But... replace "roller coaster" and "amusement park" with "religion", "riding" changes to "participating to your beliefs", and "the management" to "the priests, magistrate, etc.", and so on and I'd think most religious would "get on".

 

We all had at one point had the belief in religion. Not speaking for anyone here but...

 

Some did it because they truly believed. But others believe only because of the people around them, despite the knowledge that they knew it was wrong.

 

We have a tendency to believe what others around us believe without question, mainly because we want to feel accepted.

 

But as we begin to question, we begin to see that what we see may not be right or even exist.

That's when we begin to have doubts and we realize things.

But, if we come out with our beliefs, we run the risk of being ostracized and even hated by friends and family.

 

So, we must follow what we believe is right and what we believe is wrong.

As we control the path of our life.

 

So as I conclude here, I ask you.

 

Would you get on, or stay off?

 

- TORM

[Thurisaz]

I would drag my wife out of the ride (actually I probably wouldn't have to, she's not a dumb one ), show the managers of the ride the Finger and contemplate to set some wheels into motion just in case the "the ride's been checked and declared safe!!!" claims are really just lies.

[ogilvy]

I would NOT go on the ride! I have gotten out of line for rides that did not look safe. I have forbidden my children from riding them even though they were sad about it! NO WAY.

The analogy doesnt sound quite right to me, because i'm used to the christian way of thinking, that the non-believers are the ones in danger and in need of warning before its too late, whereas they are safe. this is debatable, i guess, but staying in relgion doesnt put them in danger, and getting out of religion doesnt save us from danger. not danger, something else.

[Karhoof]

Would I? Absolutely not, no way, no how.

Convincing family that's been steeped in a lifetime of the safety of rollercoasters is another story though.

 

 

The analogy doesnt sound quite right to me, because i'm used to the christian way of thinking, that the non-believers are the ones in danger and in need of warning before its too late, whereas they are safe.

IMO, I think it's spot on. I've felt like I might blow lunch a number of times from all the twists of that particular ride.

Regarding safety, I've never felt more secure than I do now.

 

 

this is debatable, i guess, but staying in relgion doesnt put them in danger, and getting out of religion doesnt save us from danger. not danger, something else.

Is the word you're looking for..... sanity?

[Rhia]

I'm a pussy. If it looks rickety and about to give-way, there's NO way in Hell that I'm setting foot on it again!