Quote:
Originally Posted by OKgrannie  Because of competition, churches are not in a position to make "demands" upon their members, except for the few that practice excommunication. |
This is the standard way of looking at it. We can go all the way back to Adam Smith and suggest that the religious market, just like any other market, is open to the consumer gains made available from competition (and therefore innovation). However, I'm coming from a completely different angle. The religious market is quite distinct from other markets as it is an investment, rather than a simple consumption. This can have drastic effects on the individual as they rationalise their behaviour. The investment has to be protected no matter what and this may impair the individual's ability to question church demands.