Religious Leaders/Teachers

Ok, this is sort of a hard question to phrase, but i'll try...

I was a christian for the majority of my life, but am now agnostic. My question is why the teachers and leaders of religions tell you all of these fantasy stories like they are true. I was rasied to believe that Noah literally got 2 of every animal and put them on a boat while the entire planet flooded with rain and that Jesus turned water to wine, etc. I do believe that many religious institutions help people every day by giving them something to live by, improve their lives, etc. but I'm sick of all of this BS being forced down people's throats.

I would imagine that they teach the stories as truth because they believe them to be so.

Because power is gained by a religion through gaining and keeping followers. I can't tell you the number of sites I've read that think Christianity's downfall is at hand because people have stopped going to church even though they still believe in Christianity or have made their own theistic interpretation of the bible which doesn't follow the church. They are trying to gain followers through any means necessary whether that means brainwashing you to believe or scaring you into belief.

I would imagine that they teach the stories as truth because they believe them to be so.

UnrighteousFury

What a novel idea! who'da thunk it?