Religion always makes a gulf between god and man.

Religion is the art of knowing God through someone else's eyes.

Religion has always been used as some sort of bottleneck through some sort of elite, to restrict and regulate access to god.

It works by putting people in a position of petitioning a diety to reward/not-punish in return for good behavior. That sets up a position like you're across a bargaining table: I'm here -- You're there. The Gospel says He's a partner inside you, that you share all your thoughts with. Hummmm...I think this is the part a lot of people get uncomfortable with. Would you like to share your every thought with your mother? Every thought? How bout your spouse? How 'bout the DEITY?

Ahhh...THAT's your conscience speaking. You know, the one that's going to judge you. You ought to know, it is you. Did you already snuff it out through practice? I think only dire things can come of doing that.

(But I desire and relish the ability to share my every thought with Him; but I could only do it by dying to myself and grasping at Him. One of those transformations that is hard to describe without inventing words for it, that I haven't invented yet.)

The little you get out of it going through middlemen, is not worth it.

Once shown the way, we're told we have complete freedom. (but you'd have to know Jesus to know that particular freedom. No getting the cart before the horse.)

Like getting to know anyone, it's an ongoing process, with learning continually.

Where religion is a formula, faith is a living lesson.

I couldn't be farther from religion. Even atheists are more religious.

Religion has blocked more people's way to God than atheism ever did.