Skip wrote: ↑Fri Oct 05, 2018 12:58 amWell, they had to make suicide a mortal sin, because they were promising the serfs a beautiful afterlife, but had no intention of making this life less miserable. The believing poor would have rushed off to the good place in droves, long before the elite squoze the last erg of menial labour out of them.
Couldn't have that!
Couldn't have them demanding less misery, either, so it was necessary to make suffering into a beatitude.
Yes, these are nasty old world stitch ups that stemmed from a time where most people saw slavery or torture as either routine or entertaining.
Another Abrahamic stitch up that still works is not allowing any questioning of religious claims, no matter how spurious. Any questioning was seen as either a sign of evil or weak faith.
On the up-side, you get to stomp all over heathen and backsliders.
BTW One of my favourite things on TV these days is Young Sheldon's bouts with his pastor. So refreshing!
Henry, I do this all the time when answering any post by anyone.There is not space to write a long essay here.The bit I cut and pasted from your post was an important point, and I actually like your style.
