Quote Originally Posted by djaio
i obviously can't say from experience, but i'd guess that things are at a worse condition than they were 2000 years ago before jesus arrived.
How can you possibly know that? Were you there? Except for ancient Egypt, and maybe Mesopotamia, we have almost no records at all from that time period. I'm sure they had their share of problems.

I think that's the problems with humans, we always think what's happening in the present is either the worst it's ever been or the best. Well, since the time the very first city was built, we've had our problems, be they religious, governmental, military, oir anything else. We always have problems somewhere, but I think ultimately we always manage to find a solution.

As for the rest of what you wrote, I think you're right. That's what I meant by group identity, or definition. You have to follow whatever the heads of the religion say, and you're a member. 99% of the time, religion isn't about spirituality at all, it's about US vs THEM.