>>Free? Let's see, there are two basic meanings: free of charge, and unrestricted.
>>
>>If it's free of charge, then where did they get the money to build all these churches, to own so much land and to have paid officials at all levels?
>
>The money is donated by people who want to contribute. No one is forced to give.

Only publicly shamed if they don't. I've seen the plate being passed in so many movies. They do create peer pressure.

Serbian orthodox church is far worse in this regard, BTW. They have a price list for their services, but when you ask, they don't show it, they just say "give what you can... nnnn is what most give". Now give less if you dare. And my bet is that the price list says only nnn.

>>If it's unrestricted, why don't they
>>- allow their members to be members of another religion at the same time
>
>Probably because theology difference between Christianity and Islam is too great. One is based on "God's" grace and forgiveness the other is based on how good the person is.

It's not just that - can you be a quaker, orthodox and mormon at the same time?

>>- allow women into higher levels of their hierarchy
>
>Many Churches do.

Is it so? Never saw them on TV, nor in movies. And I mean HIGHER. How many of them have a pontifice maxima?

>>- ever try anything else but hierarchy
>>- allow other interpretations of their basic texts to be disputed within their organizations
>
>They are disbuted all the time. But the core value of Christianity is very consistant within Christian churches.

OK, agree to disagree here.

>>As to "think you had something that can benefit everyone", I share their opinion that the other side is deluded :).
>
>Aw... there's that cynical side again.:)

Amazing... once I agree with them on something, and I'm cynical ;)