[friend_and_foe]

The author of the article that you're discussing in this thread is a counterexample to the only people you've encountered who think secularists were religious (as am I). The man is one of the top 3 candidates for the quintessential secularist.

Toyota Tacoma lovers aren't a religion, we agree on that. What about believing that you must kill a sizeable portion of the human population to save the mother earth? Could that be characterized as a religious view? Why or why not? What about the idea that a man can be a woman if he wills it so, and that those who don't agree are ~~blasphemers~~ bigots? Could that be characterized as a religious view? Why or why not?

In addition, what do these two statements have to do with secularism?

100%, in good faith I'm asking you these questions and hoping for a clear and honest answer. You have a genuine opportunity to change my mind on this topic.

[operatingthetan]

> ~~blasphemers~~ bigots?

>100%, in good faith I'm asking you these questions and hoping for a clear and honest answer.

This does not appear to be the case. Why not make your own argument instead of asking leading questions?

[friend_and_foe]

I was trying to draw a comparison in my question so that you could see the similarity, from my point of view.

[operatingthetan]

Since you chose not to make an argument I'll leave you with this: having beliefs doesn't mean you have religion. I have an extreme belief that I have a lovely cat. It's not my religion.

[friend_and_foe]

I addressed your cat when I addressed Toyota lovers. I'm in agreement, your belief that your cat is awesome is not a religious belief. What about the belief that you have to kill or sterilize the majority of humans to save Gaia the earth mother? Or that a man can will himself into being a woman? Are these beliefs that have the characterizations of a religion? Why or why not? Or the behavior demonstrated that if someone doesn't agree with them they are an evil person worthy of prison time or ostracization? Is ostracization not a core characteristic of cults and religions?

[operatingthetan]

You made it pretty clear from the phrasing of the questions that they were not in good faith.

>Sealioning is the name given to a specific, pervasive form of aggressive cluelessness, that masquerades as a sincere desire to understand.

>A Sealion is a person who, when confronted with a fact that they don't care to acknowledge, say, the persistence of systemic racism in America, will ask endlessly for "proof" and insist that it is the other person's job to stop everything they are doing and address the issue to their satisfaction.

Well shoot that's your playbook to a T.

[friend_and_foe]

I'm not asking for proof, just your perspective. And I've seen no clear facts even stated. And I'm not clueless, I have a very clear position here. And I'm not expecting satisfaction, you haven't even tried. Would you answer my questions?