Reply #55: Until and unless the people who support these religious sects

[jemelanson]

refuse to support them with their donations and labor, the sects will continue down a path that would be as terrible or maybe even worse than it was to begin with. Wake up and smell the coffee. The moderate Christians can no more rein in the fundies than the moderate Muslims can rein in their fundies. The fundies of both sects/religions do not recognize the moderates as having the authority to rein them in. It begins with the courage to question the teaching of their church. It continues with education and asking those questions that have been forbidden to be asked. Go to your favorite book store. Not the one your church runs. Books I would suggest would begin with "The Dark Side of Christian History" by Helen Ellerby and with " When God was a Woman." by Merlin Stone. Inform yourself how having a State Religion in other counties has led to the loss of Human rights, loss of freedom, intolerance of any other religion, and how the government has been used as a tool of the state religion to control the people, to inflict their morals on the people, and punish those who do not go along. It is not just to control the morals and lives but to also control their spirituality. To control how they see God, how they interact with each other and how they find their spiritual path. The founders of our country had experienced this first hand in Europe. That is why there is a seperation or Church and State. Most people are brought up not to question our religion as it is presented to us. That is the way and the truth and the light. any deviation from that path leads to Satan and eternity in Hell. We are brought up not to question or think on such things. Skills like critical thinking and analysis, that we use as adults are not allowed to be turned on religion. Think on that for a while. Ask those questions.