I've read it. That doesn't sound like coordination. It sounds like cherry picking. From previous myths that were once thought to be true. Like I said, the story of Jesus is not original. The virgin birth, the last supper, the betrayal, the resurrection, and many other things come from previous myths. Even the holidays aren't original. Many of them come from pagan traditions. Easter and Christmas included. Quoting things from it does nothing for me. Even if I thought the intention was from a divine source, the book is flawed because humans are flawed. If it requires "interpretation", to be described as metaphor, or is often distinguished by the use of the wood [i]version[/i], it is flawed because humans are flawed. It is dated and [b]very[/b] much a reflection of our level of ignorance at the time in which is was conceived. As for hell, what you said is exactly the problem with it. It's using fear of something that can't currently be proven to attempt to dictate people's actions. If a human does that to another human being it is seen as bad behavior or even referred to as terrorism if extreme enough. In that case people's reasons for acting considerably towards others are much less genuine, if at all, and not derived from empathy. If heaven is a utopia for everyone, they are being forced to accept it because like I said, perfection is subjective(I did use the wrong word, thank you). I do overcome hardships. Everyone does. That's life. It's inescapable. Telling myself something is looking out for me has never once comforted me. You know what did help me get through it? People. Actual human beings that I can interact with that comfort me, help me, and provide insight on situations that I needed help seeing. Many of which share the same outlook on life as me. That don't assume they are being watched and guided. We are in this together and we have [b]no[/b] reason to give in to complacency and assume we are being watched over by a higher power. We change things. We help each other. When we mess up, it's our fault. When we fix things it's because we overcame it. We are capable of so much more than belief. We are capable of love, discovery, creation, and empathy. "There is not enough love and kindness in the world to give any of it away to imaginary beings." -Friederich Nietzsche