Religion: puts a whole lot of energy into trying to authenticate itself. Example: Why does a pastor ask for money? Jesus did not take money and forbid the taking of money. He stressed that one should do good works and seek nothing in return. Pray and do good and you will be rewarded. However, the pastor always has his hat out. Contradiction? The Pastor does not need to lie and hustle to keep his job. What do people do when they go to Church? They get toether, speak together, sing together, cry together... It is a town meeting of sorts. The Pastor is the master of ceremonies. However, instead of the theme being seeking supernatural answers to earthly problems, why not just be an earthly man with a big heart willing to host communal get togethers under the values of their community? Why not be the man who get's people together to laugh and sing or cry and seek support and look for earthly answers to earthly problems? Instead of being a pastor, why not be a councilor? Encourage other councilors. You need a religion to keep your tax benefits? Fine. Make another religion...based on earthly facts and sound practices designed to help people. make a religion based on health and the human heart and spirtuality- spirituality meaning the relationship between the human body, the mind, and that of all other people and things around them in our world. Call it the True Heart Foundation. Scientology succeeded and one could say it's premises are as off the wall crazy as you can get. Imagine replacing vain and pretentious chruches with community centers filled with doctors, councilors, artists, and other types of humanitarians of all stripes who are genuinely focused on elevating people and communing with people? Why pray to the air when you can get right down to it? We know you're there for the food, chubby? Eat up. Bring your kids. How are they, by the way? Is this truly a hard thing to consider for religious people? Isn't this what you really go to Church for?
