why not just bin the religion and use all that spare energy to live a good and happy life?!?

Or pick a faith that isn't so horrible, I guess. I know we won't agree on religion :-)

I've reached the conclusion that Christianity is essentially a cult. It has all the hallmarks and, I'm convinced, only escapes the label because it's so old.

I do know a couple of people who manage to be sincere Christians without being right wing neo-nazi bigots, but man are they the minority. Rowan Williams used to be one of the reasonable ones and now even he is pursuing homophobic policies and defending clergy who abuse kids. Correction: defending the church's policy of not reporting child abuse by clergy to the cops, which IMO amounts to the same thing.

But y'all shouldn't encourage me to talk on this subject. It's not good for me...