how did the extreme religious right get that way?

[TheEnforcer]

Oh man.. you hit the nail right on the head.

[VooMan]

I think that any time you put a group together, the original purpose for the group becomes twisted and distorted over time. The mindset of what *we* believe, and the incessant need for the human ego to be *right* and the other person *wrong* (which further bolsters the human ego and continues the cycle) is what, in my opinion, drives groups to fanatacism and the crazy behavior we are seeing these days from so many different groups.

Criminals are probably responsible for 2% of the misery on our planet. *Respectable citizens* are responsible for the rest...

[MorganGrayson]

I'm just going to try and keep it short with "I agree."

And, no, it's not what Jesus had in mind at all.

Conceptually, "organized religion" is fantastic. A big version of "it's dark and scary out there so let's all hold hands while we cross the street." It's unfortunate and very, very sad that put in practice...it's so very ugly. It's a lot scarier than anything that's out there in the dark.

[LadyMischief]

Originally Posted by MorganGrayson

I'm just going to try and keep it short with "I agree."

And, no, it's not what Jesus had in mind at all.

Conceptually, "organized religion" is fantastic. A big version of "it's dark and scary out there so let's all hold hands while we cross the street." It's unfortunate and very, very sad that put in practice...it's so very ugly. It's a lot scarier than anything that's out there in the dark.

Yep.. I find organized religion to be a hotbed of sophistry and hypocracy with no other purpose than to line the pockets of those who are in a position to profit from blind faith.

Doesn't mean I don't have my own faith or beliefs, I am simply beyond disenchanted with all forms of organized religion and what they've come to symbolize in the world.