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Mr. Robot: Elliot Alderson Attacks Organized Religion — Fu*k God

mr robot elliot alderson

Mr. Robot is a USA Network drama starring Rami Malek as Elliot Alderson, a “cybersecurity engineer and hacker who suffers from social anxiety disorder and clinical depression.” (Wikipedia)  Mr. Robot focuses on Alderson’s interaction with the hacktivist community as it attempts to battle global corporate influence and control. I am an avid fan of the program. I love its dark, complex storylines. I have been a Rami Malek fan since 2010 when I first saw him in the HBO miniseries The Pacific. If you are a fan of dark/sci-fi/dystopian psychological thrillers, I think you will really like Mr. Robot. And if you are an atheist, you will certainly love Mr. Robot’s negative — dare I say hostile — portrayal of organized religion. I am surprised that One Millions Moms — the outrage wing of the American Family Association — have not called on their followers to write letters to Mr. Robot advertisers, threatening to stop buying their products unless they immediately pull their ads.

In a post titled Every Atheist Needs: Mr. Robot, blogger Godless Mom featured Elliot Alderson’s season two rant about organized religion. Alderson, answering the statement “God can help you, said what most atheists would love to shout from the mountaintops:

“Is that what God does? He helps? Tell me, why didn’t God help my innocent friend who died for no reason while the guilty ran free? Okay. Fine. Forget the one-offs. How about the countless wars declared in his name? Okay. Fine. Let’s skip the random, meaningless murder for a second, shall we? How about the racist, sexist, phobia soup we’ve all been drowning in because of him? And I’m not just talking about Jesus. I’m talking about all organized religion. Exclusive groups created to manage control. A dealer getting people hooked on the drug of hope. His followers, nothing but addicts who want their hit of bullshit to keep their dopamine of ignorance. Addicts. Afraid to believe the truth. That there’s no order. There’s no power. That all religions are just metastasizing mind worms, meant to divide us so it’s easier to rule us by the charlatans that wanna run us. All we are to them are paying fanboys of their poorly-written sci-fi franchise. If I don’t listen to my imaginary friend, why the fuck should I listen to yours? People think their worship’s some key to happiness. That’s just how he owns you. Even I’m not crazy enough to believe that distortion of reality. So fuck God. He’s not a good enough scapegoat for me.”

Are you a fan of Mr. Robot? What do you think of Elliot Alderson’s rant against organized religion? Please share your thoughts in the comment section.

Bruce Gerencser, 67, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 46 years. He and his wife have six grown children and thirteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.

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16 Comments

  1. Scott

    I love this program. It gives me a feel like Patrick McGoohan’s “The Prisoner” in the way they are playing with us in what is going on, while sneaking in solid commentary. It’s what good SF does.

  2. Avatar
    sgl

    the best most succinct quote about religion i’ve ever come across:

    edward gibbon in “history of the decline and fall of the roman empire” wrote:

    “The various modes of worship which prevailed in the Roman world were all considered by the people as equally true; by the philosophers as equally false; and by the magistrate as equally useful.”

    • Avatar
      Ralph Chang

      Your quote from Gibbons was good, a dense characterization of Roman thought re their gods. Rami Malek or, rather, the writer behind-the-scenes who formulated Elliott’s speech against organized religion, was conjuring up the ghost of Lenin as well as themes that any fan of Noam Chomsky would love. Not really original, but definitely succinct with powerful punch and largely true.

  3. Avatar
    anotherami

    I was not aware of this series, but I will definitely check it out. I’m not to the point of saying “Fuck God” (yet?), but I said, Fuck organized religion,” years ago, for exactly the reasons sgl stated. Thanks for the recommendation, Bruce.

  4. Avatar
    Grammar Gramma

    I believe it was Lucius Annaeus Seneca (Seneca the Younger) who is credited with “Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful.”

  5. Avatar
    EvilKnieval

    If this is what “most atheists” want to shout from the rooftops, than “most atheists” need to spend more time learning about their philosophical opponents, actual theists.

    Because this is some juvenile, bargain-basement, claptrap ignoramus bull that any reasonably well-educated young Christian, Muslim, Jew, or Hindu could answer with little effort. And if this is the extent of what atheism really brings to the table, and not just some Hollywood oversimplification, then religious people have nothing to fear. It’s not as if these sorts of arguments haven’t been in existence for hundreds and hundreds of years.

    • Avatar
      sgl

      and yet, you don’t bother to spend the “little effort” to refute a single argument, choosing instead to insult us all. we can see god’s love shining thru you!

      and is the catholic church, with it’s decades long sexual abuse of children and decades long cover up, one of the philosophical opponents we should be taking our lernin’ from?

      what about the evangelicals behind the republican party that, considering all the issues facing america over the last few years, put their best heavyweight philosophers on task, and decided that trying to stop gay people from getting the civil, legal, tax, and financial benefits of marriage that everyone else enjoys, was a top priority?

      and now, after losing, engaged in deep philosophical reflection to come to the conclusion that where the 0.3% of the transgender population urinates is of supreme importance to the survival of the nation.

      did they prioritize properly? i kinda thought the whole “get the log out of your own eye first” aphorism was kinda important, but what do i know, i’m just an unphilosophical agnostic. and maybe feeding the hungry, taking care of widows and orphans, maybe stopping a few wars, (blessed are the peace keepers), that sort of thing, perchance should be a little higher on the list of priorities?

      just asking to try to understand exactly where we atheists should be focusing our time to find these best and brightest philosophers you speak of. and by the way, if these examples aren’t your finest, how come they’re so prevalent? and how come the best and brightest theists aren’t all over them, “cleaning out your own barn” so to speak, to get rid of any bad philosophy? show the world your spiffy polished best.

        • Avatar
          sgl

          although bruce almighty isn’t with us right now, i have been infused with the holy spirit of bruce! and began speaking in tongue-lashings!! oh what a mighty bruce!!

          and i’m feeling a prophesy coming on…. yea verily, after 7 days, bruce shall rise again from the mists of the internet to be among us once again! he shall smite the hypocrites with renewed vigor!*

          * standard disclaimers apply; no warranty expressed or implied; batteries not included; your mileage may vary; this is not investment or religious advice, but is provided solely for educational and amusement value.

    • Avatar
      Geoff

      Oh dear, Mr Evil, you really should check out your audience before commenting. I’m yet to see someone of your ilk, full of bluster, certain they could produce arguments in favour of their own particular brand of superstition, survive intact more than a very few exchanges. Without exception all disappear with their tales between their legs and I have no doubt you’ll go the same way if, indeed, you bother following up at all.

      Well done sgl, perfectly expressed.

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