‘Less and less people subscribe to traditional religious organisation like Catholicism or the reformist Protestant doctrine. The churches are empty and so are the pulpits.,’ I said to Camp who I know is interested in that sort of thing. 

‘Not a lot of young men want to be priests or clergy, unlike a couple of generations ago when every family aspired to have at least one member in the church.’

‘Where did all the believers go Camp? ‘

‘Some became atheists like you and me but many others joined Christian cults which adhere to a much more radical and militant doctrine than the traditional religions. Sects like the JW’s, Scientology, the Mormons, Seven Day Adventists and such. These days it’s the Reformed Baptist and Methodist; others are the Pentecostal’s, Churches of Christ, Plymouth Brethren and other of their ilk. These non-denominational organizations are all relatively new evangelical movements.’

‘You’re talking about cults,’ I said.

‘Yes, you could call them that. Like the Assemblies of God or the Calvary Chapels which draw anywhere from 10’000 to 30’000 devotees for their weekly services.

‘I would say these are exclusive, fascist congregations who will most likely decide the election in November. Their flocks are all republicans and want a world full of rules and restrictions. And they all have God on their side.’

            ‘Yes, also many people do not like this new woke world where every word has to be weighed for its implications, historical relevance and perceived prejudice. The gender confusion and the binary world of AI as well as the complicated messages coming from the mostly corrupt and self-serving body politic do not help. Therefore, many flock to organizations and follow leaders that promise order and simple solutions to complex problems.’

            ‘I still believe it has to do with education. People who know their history and geography and speak more than one language are usually more tolerant and forgiving than people with a narrow sense of the world which revolves around their friends, their town or city and their sports and religious associations.’

            ‘And we call this the free world?’

            ‘Free as in unencumbered by religious dogma and ideological underpinnings, free to study, research, invent and produce. Much to the chagrin of the not-so-free world which spies, steals, reverse engineers and does not believe in universal human rights and shared knowledge.’

            ‘I suppose you put those political ideologies on par with cults. Believers and followers of those need not think, invent, research and benefit mankind. All they want is everybody to be like them, believe like them and condemn like them.’

 ‘Is it Castro that said that all religions are cults?’

            ‘Yes, they are all cults, big and small,’ he said.

‘And we’re about to find out in November when a new cult leader, now a convicted felon, might be sent to Washington.’

            ‘De Niro called Trump just another grubby real estate hustler masquerading as a big shot.’ I think he got that one right.

            ‘Are you two ready for another round of suds?’ Vicky asked since both of us were kind of slow finishing our drinks.

            ‘Is the pope catholic?’ Camp said, surprised.

            ‘I don’t know about the pope but what do you believe?’

            ‘I believe we’ll have that second round now,’ Camp laughed.