Love Me, Me, Me or Else - Christianity

Nearly as I can tell, the entire doctrine of Christianity boils down to 'Love ME above all else, or else". The occasional nice idea of the new testament (love your neighbor) is conditioned by "only if they're..." this, that or the other "acceptable" or not this, that, or the other "non acceptable". Like an abusive partner, the bible god assures us that he is the only way we can survive; that he does so many things for us because he loves us, and only wants us to love him back. That whole "under penalty of eternal torture" thing is just a footnote UNLESS you have doubts. Then it's waved about with a vengeance. This is only one of the techniques organized religion uses to keep its "flock" under control. There's the loss of companionship and social connections as well, but the fear of eternal torture keeps many adherents locked within the confines of the echo chamber that is "the church". Even those who manage to break free are often mentally tormented by thoughts of the hell that awaits them. No, I don't know how if someone has determined the biblical stories are not true they can still have a fear of hell. There is no life after death, there is no hell, there is no god watching over us. Well, certainly not the christian story god or demons or threats. Be real, no "loving god" could create a torture chamber for his children. 

All else in the writings declare we are worthless since before we were born, and are still "sinners" at old age regardless of the kind of life we've lived. No matter how many "little old ladies" you've helped cross the street, no matter how much you've given in time and money to charities to feed and clothe the poor or tutor the illiterate... if you didn't proclaim the name of this narcissistic misogynist, you didn't do anything. Regardless of who you've loved or who has loved you, you are worthless. Regardless of the discoveries you've made or the lives you've improved, you are worthless.

They say god created everything from nothing, or from the elementary elements of the ever and always existing universe in whatever form it takes from time to time. Now why 'god' needs to be stuck into an ever-existing soup of chemicals is beyond me, but yeah ok, sure, why not, LOL! These people may be the same 'christians' who call the universe 'god'. 

I don't much care for Jimi Hendrix's music but I very much agree with "When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then we will have peace". He's supposed to have said this, possibly channeling William Gladstone from the 1800s. The love of power has been many humans downfall for centuries. Allowing some to have so much power is the fault of all of us. To let someone else (even supernatural) do it instead of doing it even better yourself is just lazy. Get off your butt and do something, okay? Make a difference, here, in reality, the only life we know we have. Don't let anyone steal your joy with these ancient superstitions. 

As a late note, I wanted to point out that some believe religion can help people cope in some ways. In these days of stark contrasts among the population, the rich vs the poor, the dems vs the repubs, the minorities (skin color, religion type, nationality, abilities) vs the majority (white skin and jobs, able-bodied) this author claims religion can reclaim the "wonder" of life. I personally find "wonder" in most everything nature has to offer, but 'religion' as crutch, not as tangled with government, is helpful for some (I guess). A piece worth reading anyway.