Wisdom and knowledge are different:
Absolutely. Quite different indeed.
You know, I appreciate your points. I was just thinking about these things before I got on here this morning....
I wonder -- nay, I SUSPECT ---
That Religion is most appealing to people who haven't got much imagination. And who are perhaps rather lacking in initiative or motivation or stimulation, so they want this "fear" as you call it.
A person with a creative streak will listen to the preaching and eventually think, "Wait, wait. Wait just a minute."
And then come up with question or two.
NOT like one of those annoying people who, while watching a movie, can't keep straight who is who, follow the plot, or fit in the twists and ironies.
Nonono. I'm talking about the kind of person who pays REALLY CLOSE attention, WANTS to suspend their disbelief (which is what moviemakers and fantasy/sci-fi writers expect us to do....) and STILL says "This story is crap!!" and later thinks "That movie want absolutely nowhere, and was a huge disappointment." and eventually "It may be a best seller or a blockbuster, but it's aimed at people who are {insert attributes here: age 12, just into gore, only like shoot-em-ups, really into horror stories, can't stand chick flicks, etc. etc. etc.}
Creative, intelligent, curious people will shake their heads and think what a waste of their time it was to sit in the theatre and waste of money to have paid to get in! Or they will get to, say, chapter three of that newest bestseller by author Soandso, slam it shut, and then say "THIS IS PULP FICTION. Why do people read this kind of tripe?" And thereafter, those people, rather than INVESTING their money in those movies or books, will go to the LIBRARY and BORROW them first. No commitment. Loved it? Go buy a copy. But don't buy it before you've had a look, or are very sure you already love that author's work.
And then say to themselves, out of boredom, or frustration, or anger at the manipulation getting the perp rich, or even with dollar signs in their own eyes....
"Self, these stores are pretty shabbily constructed. The characters represented are inconsistent and either terrorists or fools. It just is not believable, taken as a whole. And who would worship some pathological murdering bully just because he said so? You know, self, let's make up our own story....since all there is to go on is ideas and some really, really old stories that aren't even original.....and...and, MAYBE we can make some money at it! Look at how profitable these stupid movies and lame-o books are!"
Enough of the analogy. If people don't get my point from that one, I give up trying.
