Subject: Re: what board is this?
I don't have access to the poster who wrote this, "why is chatting about a 13th apostle conspiracy (or such) exciting on an atheist board?" but I get the point of their question, which is only logical from their "believer" point of view, since their "view" or "belief" was, at one time, the default belief, so being a "believer," they think it still is.

As a person who was brought up in the 50's, in a small town at the foot of the San Gabriel mountains where I lived for 15 years, is a statue of Jesus that stands 85 feet high, called the Tower of Redemption. His arms are stretched 65 feet "from finger tip to finger tip," according to Gemini. This is just one example of many of the symbols of this religion which dotted and still dot the hillsides along the many main roads and freeways of Los Angeles. Or the entrances to cities, like Santa Monica, named for the mother of Saint Augustine. So, why wouldn't a person be interested in these symbols of belief that has shaped so much of art and culture for so long???

For me, the most important reason to understand these beliefs and where they came from is to defend against the terrible persecution of those who do not believe the way they do. Humans can be violent and murderous and tend to justify their behavior according to their beliefs in their own righteousness and right to do so. Whatever religion, in whatever part of the world, religion is the stuff that binds groups together and justifies, in their minds, their existence and their rights, above politics and even family. It's a way to enforce compliance and justify punishment.

Going into a Catholic church one time, after many years of staying away from any church, I heard this: "We are the one true church." I can't remember what else they said, but the congregation, droned on in unison, cementing their beliefs into each other and themselves, that they were the one and only ture church.

What rational stranger wouldn't be alert to the danger of that?! And these phrases, or some very similar, are repeated at church services of all kinds, across American and in other ceremonies and prayers in other countries, all over the world. Asserting their one true religion and their righteousness.

To think outside those boxes can be dangerous business; it is a brave person who dares to question the default authority. Anyone afraid of going against social norms will not be able to think thoughts that could cause them ostracism from friends and families, even if their thoughts are sane and valid, they will shrink from them. Better not to think too deeply. Better to stay safe. Stay witht he crowd. History has shown what happens to those who think outside of boxes, not for ill or evil but for truth. They were killed. Simply killed or banished.

Fortunately, human kind can make no progress if they don't question and explore. That reality is even greater than social proof. Social proof is only human based, by nature, particular. And reality encompasses all. So outside our human beliefs lies reality, beckoning us onward, lttle by little, as we are able to comprehend what lies beyond those beliefs, we grow in wisdom -- and humility.