i had a somewhat different experience in that my friends who are more profoundly religious seemed by far less likely to get sucked into the fear cults.

however, this stands in marked contrast to how many of the "religious leaders" behaved.

perhaps the issue is not devotees but popes, not religion but ORGANIZED religion which, like any political body, tend to become venal and self serving.

i think it may be useful to distinguish between christians and the chirstian church/bureaucracy.

this history of popes is as bloodthirsty, arrogant, and covetous as any line of kings.