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Comment 18 by Steve Zara
Yes, I think you are right, but we're thinking of the prison differently. I meant that religion imprisons the intellect - stifles it, confines it. You mean that religion creates a prison out of believers' emotions - and I think that works too. In my analogy it is the intellect that is imprisoned; in yours, it is the emotions that do the imprisoning. Two sides of the same coin, pretty much.
I think you are right, too, that for many Christians the driving emotion is fear of death. But don't rule out the fear of life too. Life can feel pretty overwhelming at times, and the idea of a benign, all-powerful being who will look after us and 'work all things for good' if only we'll let him can be very appealing.
Permalink Wed, 24 Aug 2011 21:37:05 UTC | #863881