What is worse? Threatening someone with an imaginary punishment, like "You are going to hell if you jerk off" or a real threat, like " We'll cluster bomb the fuck out of you if you don't do as I say"?


The first, being imaginary won't be carried out. There is no chance of itchy trigger fingers and you'll still jerk off. You may need to ask for forgiveness, but you'll carry on.


Now, the second is real and as we all know, do happen. There are plenty of itchy trigger fingers and you may never jerk off again. You might get lucky or unlucky and live, (depends how you view it and the damage done to your mind and body) but you'll never be happy.


The threat from an imaginary source seems the lesser of two evils and if you just go with it a pretty damn good option.


Of course, removal of both scenarios is the best, but man's desire to control abhors a vacuum. So what can it be replaced with? Perhaps an enlightened state of being will fill mankind's mind? Ha! Now there's an idea you'll never be threatened with!