I had to read it through a second time just to appreciate it.

Just fucking brilliant and so apt.

control and obedience.

"If you don't listen to me and believe EVERYTHING I say--you will burn in hell!!"

So convenient isn't it?

When you see it phrased like this, it really is shocking. The vast majority of religion is a tool for control.

(aside from a couple of weddings) That was the kind of sermon that was going on, and it was an episcopal church. Then they said something about the 'country of the week' to pray for, and I assumed it was going to be Haiti (it had just been hit by a hurricane, I think - this was about 18 years ago).

No, they prayed for Australia - because there were so many heathens there.

I was a self described agnostic at the time, but hadn't realised just how abusive church teachings were since I never really went to church as a kid.

I know, what a bad, bad girl for even thinking such a thing!

Julie

No, I haven't quite gone nuts.

As I'm sitting here reading the thread and watching TV, one of the Vonage commercials came on with the Stepford Neighbors.

For the few who haven't seen it - the couple looks like JWs or Mormons, and are pitching bundling of phone/cable/internet etc. They come over to welcome their new neighbors.

The woman is holding up a cute puppy but "he's part of the bundle."

"We ALL bundle here!"

For some reason, it reminded me of the "Bandwagon Effect" religion uses so effectively - "we all worship here, WTF is wrong with you?" Which reminded me of the graphic in the post.

Jeez, that was convoluted, even for me...

I really hope its not "for laughs". Spousal abuse is a really horrible thing, and I kind of feel like this is making fun of it. I understand the comparison, and I guess in a lot of ways it fits, but it still kind of makes me uncomfortable.

I think it's serious, dead serious. I've had a sister and a niece who have been in (and gotten out of) abusive relationships so I wouldn't find it funny at all. I think it's an apt comparison.

More here: http://atheism.about.com/od/whatisgod/p/AbuserAbusive.htm

I wish more women would (and could) leave abusive fucking wastes of skin. Your sister and niece must be amazing women.