It would be cool to add another forum for people to organize around ideas and issues, be able to take collective actions, and organize into private groups as they see fit.

It is about the only thing that could save us from the kakistocracy, rule of the worst, we are saddled with.

Does not make sense to me, but that bit was not doctrine until 350 ad.

You just taught me as much bible as I have ever learned, last lesson being south park raining frogs.

Newsletters kept some informed, plays even, books. After the printing press especially.

That is why the church was so powerful though, they had people all pushing the same message working off the same game plan and it gave them real power in organization and numbers.

Not until the 18th century did they lose strict control of truth and expression.

Depends on when and where and twas religious pricks taking issue with everything mostly. Voltaire and the philosophes penned stuff in other names all the time even as it was known to be them, they’re arrested quite often and thrown in prison but would get bailed out by there aristocratic Buddies sooner than later.

England had more freedom in this regard but by the 19th century the church had lost it’s monopoly on truth and speach even on the continent.