Noone could be totally independent in your sense, unless he lives on his own in an isolated island. But I believe that you are not, otherwise, how can you get access to the internet? In this sense, you are also "controlled" by some people in the society?
What distinguish here and some (may not all) churches is that we have no power here to force people to always be ex-christian. On the other hand, the churches would force people to not to leave.
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[[[[[[[[[ ThANKs to the signature of My Dear Sir 劈柴 ]]]]]]]]]
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When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours."
當 你們 明白 你們 為什麼 要 憎恨 所有 其他的神,你們 會明白 我 為什麼 。 “
--Stephen F. Roberts