HOW THE CHURCHES HAVE RETARDED PROGRESS
Bertrand Russell derided the organized church with, “… [the church] is in its major part an opponent of progress and of improvement in all the ways that diminish suffering, because it has chosen to label as morality a certain narrow set of rules of conduct, which have nothing to do with human happiness.” Bertrand Russell did not want to be a ‘Christian’, because of the bad teaching/examples of the church leaders.
Russell and Jesus Christ shared similar sentiments.
Jesus warned his disciples about the religious leaders of his day, “For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.” (Matthew 23:4). In fact, Jesus chastised the religious leaders of his day to their face with, “Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.” (Mark 7:9).
Bertrand erred by fixating on sinful church leaders, rather than on the Creator.