Surrounded.

It seems to me that God is surrounded by people who don't understand Him.

As Jesus found with the Pharisees, the places of worship are full of people who are governed by fear.

When we attempt to make contact with God independently we are overpowered by the evil influences around us.

When we join a religious community we are confronted with fear.

So the struggle continues with bullies and devils on one side and fear-ridden bigots on the other.

That is not to say that there are no good people in the Churches, there are many who follow the Gospel of Love, but they find it difficult to escape the fear that surrounds them.

Why is it like this?

Perhaps Jesus holds the key when he says, "' Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.'''  Matthew 24:28 (NRSV)

Where the Christ is - i.e. the absolute power - there those who seek power will gather.

And absolute power corrupts absolutely.