1. set the rules in opposition to fundamental human (i.e., mammalian) instincts
   1b. punishment is unimaginable suffering for eternity
2. everyone lives a guilt-ridden life full of shame
3. leverage for control in every aspect of life (i.e., slave congregation)
4. ???
5. profit. a fucking lot

side effects of psychological damage, suicide, sociopathic tendencies, etc. don’t matter in the slightest to the people collecting your tithes and controlling your behavior-- so, rather the same as social media

tl;dr: people in a perpetual state of unfulfillable desire are easy to control