Religion and Advertising

I have read with interest the feedback of other members. The difficulty I have is with the underlying assumption that religion is a good thing, a genuine thing and I've got my doubts about this.... My father and ALL of his sisters and his only brother (that's 7 girls and 2 boys) joined the convent or seminary to become either a Catholic nun or priest. Why? Because back in those days it was regarded as the "highest calling" there was and so Catholic parents pushed their kids to be one or the other (or as my father said when I asked him "I wouldn't say we were pushed but we were certainly strongly encouraged"). When I grew up and got to the age of 23, I fell in love with a beautiful woman who happened to be a Catholic nun (now, believe me they're rare!) - well, she had been in the convent for 2 years and was a "postulant or novice" nun - can't remember which anymore. We married and had two children. Eventually, after 17 years of marriage we separated and divorced - pretty sad and much of it my fault. It's not every day that a woman gives up marrying Jesus and forsaking all other men, for you. That's a heavy load and one I didn't fully appreciate at the time. Now, after living with another woman for 10 years, she wants to marry me. AND marry her I will but it is not without concern for my two kids whose mother is an ex-nun who still believes that what God has joined together, no one can set aside - including man-made common law courts, Religion is often what you're born into. It is a belief that is often passed down and reminds me a lot of the psychological indoctrination that goes on in the army. Is there a place for religion in advertising - certainly not. Is here a place for religion at all - I doubt it. We can hardly blame the terroists for being religious fantantics when, from where I sit, you could say the same thing about Americans! No one and I mean no one, has a clue. What they preach and what they believe in has caused more wars and destruction than the simple belief in knowing and doing what is right. Valerie, a smart and provocative topic, I notice you haven't really had anything much to say except ...pose the question. Brilliant, from a marketing point of view! Barry