
SMALL MATTERS LIKE RELIGION The most potent force religion has used to cage people is the "Fear of the Unknown" - the fear of death and after-life. It is much more potent than the promise of prosperity. The idea of death is terrifying. Is there another life beyond this earthly life? Or are we going to end up as dust and evaporate into oblivion? Religion attempts to provide a cushioning effect to this terrifying reality of death. Each religion creates beautiful fantasies - different versions of paradises; of sexual orgies with virgins, of exotic wines, of everlasting life, of gold-plated streets and singing hallelujah to some god. Each of these paradises reflects the mindset of the people who created them. And along with these eternal paradises are their corresponding eternal damnation. Of course the religious leaders decide who go to where. The first step in breaking away from the shackles of religion is overcoming this fear of after-life. It is this fear that had ma...