Demanding money with menaces ….seems to be a speciality with the church…..
odd for such spiritual people..
This from Acts …
5:1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
5:2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
5:3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
5:4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
5:5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
5:6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
5:7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
5:8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
5:9 Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
5:10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
5:11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
So Ananias sold some land and gave half to the church but the church wanted it all.
Seems to be a “Your money or your life “ deal …or perhaps "Your money AND your life"
I wonder if Peter wore a mask..
Man will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest.
"Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats."
Wherever you find people who believe something on faith you'll find a grifter or ten circling...religious belief is a grifters dream quality in a mark. It comes with inbuilt guilt that ensures a fool will part with their money even faster.
