What makes people profess deep faith even as they act in ways that betray that faith? What makes people blind to the irrationality of their religion yet clearly see those of others?
For thousands of years, religion has woven its way through societies and people as if it were part and parcel to that society or person. In large measure it was left unexplained and unchallenged; it simply existed. Those who attempted to challenge and expose religion were often persecuted, excommunicated, shunned, or even executed. It could be fatal to explain that which the church, priest or imam said was unexplainable.
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