[perhilzit]

Because religion is what happens when a group of followers is unable to achieve the heightened God-aware states that it's founders have achieved, and they confuse the process with the result, and try to codify the process, and when followers cannot achieve those states, it then becomes about controlling others, and that's when fear sets in. Maybe they 'didn't live right', and that's why it doesn't work, maybe it's 'something wrong in them', etc, and before you know it it's about controlling. And control is almost always achieved through fear. Hence, religion becomes the opposite of it was meant to be- it's not about uniting man's consciousness with God, it becomes all about separating it. Very well put.

My parents raised me in the Christian church (which I am by no means a part of anymore), and lately I have been talking to them a lot about OBEs. I haven't ever argued with them when they bring out their little religious remarks like "Just be sure you know where you'll end up after you die" and "Dont turn your back on your savior" (don't get me wrong, they're nice people), but it just annoys me that they are so closed to any ideas that dont come straight from the bible.
(As a side note, they attend New Life Church, former home of Ted Haggard )

They are very conservative as well, so we basically agree on nothing. In fact, most of my city is like that.

I just realized I have no clue where Im going with this, other than this is part of the reason I really appreciate people like most on this forum who understand the difference between religion and God, beliefs and "knowns", fear and love....etc. etc.