askchapo

This is not in any way a justification, just my explanation of why it's so pervasive and attractive

I see now. I wasn't sure earlier if you were defending it or not. I think your earlier explanation as to why it appeals to people makes a lot of sense.

I agree with your assessment here about pseudoscience. Magical thinking is a product of alienation and can give people hope and reassurance, but there's a fine line between self-soothing and denial of reality and necessity.

I think we have to be careful to disentangle our view of pseudoscience and magical thinking from judging the character of their adherents. I don't think we can always ignore these beliefs as an issue for a later date. Addressing these beliefs now can and should be done with empathy. I think this counterreaction to "reddit atheism" has come about from conflating their belligerence, lack of respect, and laundering science for progressive-washed imperialism, with their ontology being incorrect. We have to make a positive case that confronting life's problems without magical thinking gives people a more genuine agency and sense of agency, which is emotionally fulfilling too.

as always, Marx put it best:

The abolition of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is the demand for their real happiness. To call on them to give up their illusions about their condition is to call on them to give up a condition that requires illusions.

We shouldn't be afraid to call on them, we just have to be careful and empathetic.