It's easy to say that these are the best of times, and they are the worst of times as well. People are beginning to awaken from their slumber: a spiritual spring has sprung. The SOMNOLENCE of the religious masses is about to be changed. It won't feel right at first; however, in the end it will all work out. Have faith!

Religion is a unique aspect of our life.

>We show ourselves as our heroic best and as our tragic worst.
>We stand strong for great ideals and we surrender to delusions.
>We're capable of great nobility and at the same time petty anger.

This list is extensive but the above should get your head in the direction I want to go here.  Most of our lives are lived out in a sort of lethargic malaise (think Jimmy Carter here) wherein unless something tragic comes along we're not even aware of the hypnotic state within which we go through each day. Karl Marx rightly saw that for many, religion is an opiate that numbs our feelings.

Origen said, "People hear fables which they do not understand."

The church has so promoted and postured itself wherein the lay person (knowingly or not) is discouraged in any original thinking, or even loving questioning. Too many rely upon the competency of the priesthood (that may not be such), and actually fears getting in trouble with "headship". This built in cultural fear works wonders for the church, but does little for the growth of those sitting in the pews.

Thus man abandons any attempts at reasoning and certainly takes no theological detours.

Subservience comes in many different wrappers.  When it's wrapped in LOVE, it not only looks and feels good, but it's GOD as well!