Thanks for starting this thread. You have touched upon a subject that I think many people are waking up to and I'll share some of my thoughts on it . :):) In my almost 6 decades on this planet I have come to the conclusion that almost all organized religions survive on oppressing the masses. Many forms of control have been used, but fear and threat have been the preferred method of holding control over the people. I'm sorry, but any "god" that says you should subjugate the masses and that any that do not adhere to their demands should be banned, beaten, raped , or killed is NOT a just God ! And all religious bibles, testaments, scrolls, tablets, and so on were written by mortal men ! NOT a single thing has ever been found to have been "written" by any god or superior being. And most of it is such silly stuff that it resembles childish fairy tales or make believe stuff that no adult would EVER take seriously ! I understand that some people say that it helps these people get through life. But does enforcing a lie that encourages one to shirk responsibility for their life decisions really helping to advance humanity ? I think not and this sort of irresponsibility is what has led us to a time when almost half of this country gives all their power over to a tyrant that pretends (and poorly at that) to be their evangelical savior when he is in fact possibly the most godless figure in the country! For centuries the religious leaders of the world have been able to squash any descent among the masses and they now see that they are loosing the grip and they are freaking out and pulling out all the stops to halt the mass exodus of their ranks and thus the spigot of guilt driven contributions (bribes) from their "flock" !!