(January 7, 2013 at 7:55 am)Gooders1002 Wrote: This Picture sums it up completely.
There are still religions because there is a way to make a living from promoting them. Take away the income and the religion goes away. Unless the god is speaking for itself in clear sentences in the language of the listeners obedience to the gods is always obedience to the priests. With that comes power, income, respect even reverence, deference, you name it.
A friend actually tried it. Got the cheap black suit, bib and collar and wore it on a flight from Syracuse to DC. He couldn't carry is own bags. People made way for him. Stews were always watching for his needs. He was sort of in awe of the difference in the way he was treated. Frankly I can't imagine wanting that kind of treatment and my friend never did it again for not liking it. But there are people crowding divinity schools to get that treatment because it comes with the territory.
And the rare sect idea of a minister having to support himself never quite works out either because whatever the work he does it is never on an even footing, never without special treatment. The preacher might make the worst furniture in town but everyone is going to buy some.
