What influence, in fact, have ecclesiastical establishments had on society? In some instances they have been seen to erect a spiritual tyranny on the ruins of the civil authority; in many instances they have been seen upholding the thrones of political tyranny; in no instance have they been the guardians of the liberties of the people. Rulers who wish to subvert the public liberty may have found an established clergy convenient allies.
— James Madison, Memorial And Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments, June 20, 1785.
(via Charlie Pierce at Esquire’s political blog and Twitter)
the long way home 
“Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law.”” (Galatians 2:16, NLT) When the “church” which is saved by grace, tries to make the world follow rules that they have been set free from, you can end up believing anything.
We were members of a 8,000+ member church where the pastor had us convinced that killing people was the will of God; capital punishment and war in general.
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