Reply #65: My goal would certainly not be to name any belief you -- [View All]

-- subscribe to.

Here's this:

“Persecution is not an original feature in any religion; but it is always the strongly marked feature of all religions established by law.”

--Thomas Paine

Now parse it all you want, but Mr. Paine knew his stuff. He also can be invoked as an expert against the threat of tyranny and authoritarianism. He acknowledges your point, stated earlier, that 'persecution is not an ORIGINAL feature in any religion' -- but once we're out of the gate, Selwynn -- and we all must leave the gate sometime -- the bedrock and identifiable characteristic of theism is authoritarian in nature.

Tillich is one of my favorite calm minds but take a walk on the wild side and read Nietzsche's BEYOND GOOD AND EVIL. If after a spin with Nietzsche you still feel the two aren't connected, I'll send you a case of your favorite beer.