(January 22, 2012 at 7:15 pm)Rokcet Scientist Wrote: All of the above. Plus, most of all, social control, a.k.a. fear of peer punishment and ostracism.
That is, perhaps, the most crucial, central drive of evangelicalism and religious belief. I don't get scared easily by threats from nonexistent things like god, hell and divine punishment. However... Angry, bloodthirsty, ignorant mobs are not "nonexistent" threat to my life. I, once, feared my religious parents will disowned me if I declared my atheism, but I got fed up and hell with it..
If there is a legitimate to prevent fear of peer punishment and ostracism, then religion will collapse. Or I'm being optimistic.