Members still in are there because of either sunk cost fallacy, fear, family ties, stupidity, willfull ignorance, need of a controlled group, narcissistic feelings or some combination of these.
While I understand and partly agree with the statement, I also think it oversimplifies a very complex reality.
Next month, I’m visiting the Vatican. I don’t believe in the Bible or in Jesus as a divine figure. Yet I still value many of the ethical principles that have been passed down through Christian tradition. Like it or not, much of the Western world’s moral foundation, including my own, comes from centuries of Christian influence. The Catholic Church, with all its contradictions, played a major role in keeping that legacy alive.
I won’t be going as a believer, but I will go with a sense of gratitude for the cultural, philosophical, and moral heritage, even if it’s imperfect. Of course, I’m aware of the darker parts of history: the Inquisition, colonialism, abuse, the mistreatment of women, and more. These aren’t minor details. They’re real and serious. But I see them as going against the core messages of compassion, humility, and forgiveness that also survived.
Many people who are still part of the Church may struggle with its past and present problems. But some stay not because of fear or ignorance, but because they believe those core values still matter, and they want to represent them.
It’s easy to judge others from a distance, but that rarely helps. People are complicated. Some stay in institutions for reasons that might seem weak, such as fear of shunning or sunk cost fallacy, while others stay because they are trying to do something good.