One of your recent posts had a descriptive picture of hell: eternal excruciating pain. Well now . . .

I am reminded of the mob’s use of “protection” payments. Either make regular cash payments or your little store might have a small fire one night.

I fast forward to the church pew. Either put money into the offering plate or risk (nay, guarantee) eternal excruciating pain. Hell.

In both cases it is a way for lazy leaches [sic] (thugs?) to make a living. The church is more sanctimonious about it and pretties it up with big (expensive) buildings and robes and organ music and fine trappings, but stripped bare it is a protection racket. A scam BUILT on the premise that becoming worm food is too horrible to ponder. So this peaceful edifice with stained glass windows and hymns and flowers just softens the underlying theme: pay up or go to hell. Lovely. Tony Soprano in a shift.

Will