Clayton, in addition to the points I raise and questions I ask above (which you have yet to address), I found this to be quite appropriate, as it flies directly in the face of your claims about religion “not entailing the use or threat of violence”…
Sam Harris: What happens if you really follow the bible
And just for fun measure:
And to your point about “voluntary”, I found this to be quite relevant…
(From TomWoods.com):
“The State is not force alone,” said H.L. Mencken. ”It depends upon the credulity of man quite as much as upon his docility. Its aim is not merely to make him obey, but also to make him want to obey.”
Thanks to Sam Geoghegan for this quotation, which I had never seen before. Rothbard cites it, I’ve since discovered.