The human body is always treated as an image of society.

The history of the Church of Rome is a constant leakage of members into such breakaway cults, which go on splitting.

Islam is in principle egalitarian, and has always had problems with power.

It seems true that the growth of science and secularism made organized Christianity feel under threat.

Just in our lifetime our society has become looser and more private, it becomes extremely difficult to hold to any permanent commitment whatever, least of all to organized religion.

The natural response of the old-timers is to build a strong moral wall against the outside. This is where the world starts to be painted in black and white, saints inside, and sinners outside the wall.

Our technological infrastructure alienates us from each other. No need to form a workplace community, everybody there will be out in a year or two, and so will you, looking for a better place.