dear oz...
you said: "Power and control is what the bible is. History demonstrates that remarkably well i think"...
the bible and the church TOGETHER are set apart from secular authorities for the simple fact that they are to espouse and maintain a coda of morality within society that is not subject to the winds of change...otherwise...who or what "culture/person" has the authority over another "culture/person" to define what morality is...one persons pedophillia is another persons virgin bride etc...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_petition_against_age_of_consent_laws
+ imo, at some point the church that believes the bible IS the sword of the Spirit will be the only thing standing between you and the fanatical islamist...
love michelle