I was REALLY hoping the nasty attacks on Mormonism weren’t going to start up, but I didn’t have much hope that they wouldn’t. It’s pathetic. *sigh*

re: #29 Killgore Trout

I think it plays on the human tendency towards Obsessive-Compulsive rituals. Especially with things like clothing (burka, magic underwear, special hats). Once people get used to them they’ll feel something’s wrong unless they have their special attire, less likely to leave the religion because it makes them feel comfortable.

I don’t entirely disagree with the OCD part, but there are all sorts of attire that signify identity, not just religion: professional (a judge’s black robe, a doctor’s white coat, a chef’s hat), ethnic (numerous, take your pick), political (numerous, take your pick), or social (baseball caps, cowboy hats & boots, $500 designer handbags, body piercings, tattoos, shaved heads, mohawks, sports team jerseys).

People in all of the above groups may indeed feel something’s wrong unless they have their special attire, but I seriously doubt that feeling is very high up on the list of reasons not to leave one’s religion.

I’ve never heard of anyone saying, “I was really miserable in religion X and decided that it was no good for me and I should leave, but the thought that I might have to stop wearing my special [fill in the blank] stopped me in my tracks ‘cause, y’know, not being able to wear it would be much more uncomfortable than the other stuff that’s bothering me.” That doesn’t make sense. Why would someone even have to stop wearing the attire if they were that attached to it?