Since religion has no natural predator, tests of faith now are strictly done in-house. No torches or late night chases into the grottos, religion is now the predator. With greater protection than an endangered species, Christian Faith can now part the seas of opinion simply by making claims. It is a strange case where the vast majority can claim persecution at the drop of an idea—or any opposition of its attempt to legislate as hate speech.
The church has always thrived on being the martyr. The apostles were all supposedly killed for their beliefs—but not really. They were most likely killed because they were pushy, annoying pomps—end-time zealots preaching the fall of society.
Now the pre-testing comes with a handy coloring book and performed early and often by a team of trained, in-house experts. Poisoning the well Warning each child about just the right kind of doubt and how to combat it, squelching dissent years before most can be trusted think on their own, and by graciously withholding information.
As christianity now endures the most violent oppression in history—that internal, self deprecation that insures the acolyte and initiate are bonded forever as the worthless, dependent sinner.
“Investigations into the beginnings of religion have accumulated steadily throughout the past century. It is only by great efforts of censorship, by sectarian education of an elaborately protected sort, and the like, that ignorance about them is maintained.”—H. G. Wells
The honest test of faith would be an early, liberal arts education, exposing the young to a wide variety of disciplines to nurture their minds as they grow. The truth is there is no faith when the religious tale is all they are allowed.
Columbia River Ferry at Inchelium, Wa
Pandemic Picnic #7 Blue Day!
TheCommonAtheist 