People who take drugs usually don't complain about the drugs while they're taking them, do they? Quite the opposite, they say what a fantastic ride it is.
I would submit, however, that none of those people really took it seriously in the sense that I described. A little christianity isn't particularly harmful, otherwise the effects upon society would be very noticeable. But that is just the corollary, people don't really believe all that stuff, because it's irrational.
Joking aside here, you must understand that Christianity has transformed sad depressed and lost people into happy, content, and loving human beings. Surely, you cannot deny all the good Christianity has caused.
And irrational beliefs are harmful. So if you believe the good ones (Jesus loves me) and ignore the harmful ones (I'm under constant surveillance, not even my thoughts are free), then it's a bit like kids who have an imaginary friend. It's a fantasy, but it's a positive one.
Yes, using the threat of force. Or more importantly, guilt. Do this or else. This is the essence of Christianity.
My biggest criticism isn't the threat of force, it's the deception, and the absurd logic that is supposed to justify it. Be good, or else you're going to hell. But god loves you, he would never do anything to hurt you. But he will definitely send you to hell.
And do you know how I know men invented this? Because when guys like Stalin ruled they were saying the exactly same things. Stalin is the father of our nation, he is a comrade, he loves you. But he will definitely send you to Siberia if someone overhears you criticizing the government.
If so, let's just tell it like it is. You're a slave to god, and he wants absolute obedience. Why do you think that message wouldn't sell? Why, because telling the truth is less useful for a dictator than deception.
When a father tells his sons, don't do this or that, do you really think that the father actually expects them to act as he ordered. He knows otherwise, however, he simply wants his children to act as morally as they can.
Are you kidding? Have you seen that graph that says "number of people killed in the bible, god vs the devil"? Do you have any idea of the blind carnage that happens in the bible? Only a psychopath could find those tales heartwarming. And this is supposed to be the book to set the moral standard? [/QUOTE]
