Fear, ah, yes...As a Catholic child, my stomach churned and my heart palpitated so much that it's a wonder I'm not at the doctor's every week as a result. But then I saw through the whole thing by age 30, none too soon.
Hopefully, we’re one of the last generations to have observed that kind of fear. No child should grow up watching religion terrify people into obedience.
Great article. There is nothing new under the sun. One part that very few Christians know is that damnation was not always orthodoxy. In the very early church, universal salvation (possibly after a brief purification in Hell), was common, and might even have been dominant. The Roman Church stamped that out, but it took centuries. This winter I need to write my very long article about Hell.
Fear, ah, yes...As a Catholic child, my stomach churned and my heart palpitated so much that it's a wonder I'm not at the doctor's every week as a result. But then I saw through the whole thing by age 30, none too soon.
Hopefully, we’re one of the last generations to have observed that kind of fear. No child should grow up watching religion terrify people into obedience.
Great article. There is nothing new under the sun. One part that very few Christians know is that damnation was not always orthodoxy. In the very early church, universal salvation (possibly after a brief purification in Hell), was common, and might even have been dominant. The Roman Church stamped that out, but it took centuries. This winter I need to write my very long article about Hell.