I don’t think he’s referring to the fruit of knowledge of good and evil, I think he’s referring to the doctrine of original sin itself, which he’s suggesting caused harm by occupying space in Christian brains.
Although belief in the inherent brokenness of humanity is a poisonous meme that can, at its worst, make you hate yourself and mess with the happiness of others, I see it as different from a basilisk. You can still function and lead a goal-driven life while under the influence of religious dogma. It does not paralyze you with terror the way a basilisk is reputed to do.
Unless the definition of “actual harm” was meant to contain this sentiment, it’s sufficient for a counterexample to the general point you expressed above to merely be an idea that causes harm by occupying space in a brain, regardless of whether it’s a true basilisk or not.
I don’t think he’s referring to the fruit of knowledge of good and evil, I think he’s referring to the doctrine of original sin itself, which he’s suggesting caused harm by occupying space in Christian brains.
Although belief in the inherent brokenness of humanity is a poisonous meme that can, at its worst, make you hate yourself and mess with the happiness of others, I see it as different from a basilisk. You can still function and lead a goal-driven life while under the influence of religious dogma. It does not paralyze you with terror the way a basilisk is reputed to do.
Unless the definition of “actual harm” was meant to contain this sentiment, it’s sufficient for a counterexample to the general point you expressed above to merely be an idea that causes harm by occupying space in a brain, regardless of whether it’s a true basilisk or not.