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of religion. That is to say, when it is not being used for more nefarious purposes such as creating fanatic young men willing to sacrifice their life for their overlord's cause. What a sad commentary.

Surely religions can find a more ethical way to maintain their membership roles by motivating adults to join their congregations. Perhaps they are desperate. Perhaps resealing their parking lots and fixing their leaking roofs are a higher priority than honoring the right of children to be left alone until they reach the age of maturity. After all, the oldest members of their congregations do have a distressing habit of becoming infirm and dying. When they shuffle from the pews into the church gravesite new replacements must come from somewhere.

Religions view the induction of children as a future resource to feed their bank accounts. They must keep attracting members. Otherwise, attendance would shrink due to inevitable attrition. The financial burden would pass to fewer and fewer congregation members until the load eventually became untenable. Banks and paving contractors would start asking pointed questions. Congregation members facing ever steeper tithes would find even more ways to justify defecting. Which in turn would mean less in the collection plates and a downward spiral is set in motion. Looking at how quickly churches were shuttered in Britain, must provoke nightmares in every church governing board and advisory council in the United States. This is why churches now feature rock bands, professional theatrical lighting and preach the gospel of greed. They call it prosperity.

What did happen in Britain? Because of changing demographics and informed objections to religion, poll data shows the Christian English bailed in great numbers during the latter part of the 20th century. All over Britain forlorn churches stand boarded up, weeds sprouting in their yards, front doors guarded by rusty chains and locks. Britain is now considered perhaps the most secular country in Europe. Only 6.3 percent of the population attends church twice or more a month, according to Christian Research, a publishing group in London. And it's expected to fall to 2 percent by 2040.

In Part II of this article the powerful influence of politics and militarism are examined. Religious indoctrination can provide financial health for the religion business, but it can also provide young men willing to risk their lives for their overlords. Unscrupulous adults are all to ready to capitalize on the most weak and defenseless to achieve their goals.

Notes:
http://marlenewinell.net/taxon omy_menu/3/6 Recovering from religion
http://tinyurl.com/3buew3 (interview with Shalom Auslander, "Foreskin's Lament")

http://religiousfreaks.com/200 6/07/12/my-kid-is-going-to-jes us-camp/ Jesus Camp video

http://www.dailycamera.com/new s/2007/dec/13/empty-churches-f ull-mosques-in-europe/

Learn more about this author, Richard Collins.
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