> Bill Bartlett wrote:
>
>> I believe I have given the answer to the first question once before,
>> religion is simply a strategy for passing social traditions,
>> including experience and knowledge, down through the generations.
>>
>> Without social customs and beliefs, then there is no society in any
>> meaningful sense, just a collection of individuals.
>
>
> Yes, but much of American Protestantism is deeply individualistic -
> it's all about one's direct relation to God, with little institutional
> mediation. At least the Catholic Church runs good hospitals and
> nursing homes - I'm trying to think of a socially useful contribution
> of the Baptists. Maybe someone can help me out.
Well, sometimes they start up fundamentalist-Bible colleges, which keep their imbecile kids from taking up valuable admissions slots that are better given to the rest of us.