Christianity does indeed offer the purest route to personal fulfillment. Yet, Christianity, in particular, is filled with paradoxes and difficult demands. As Charles Colson (pamphlet in the resource list) asks, "If we were making up our own god, would we create one with such harsh demands for justice, righteousness, service and self-sacrifice as we find in the biblical texts?"
   Jesus said: Love your enemies. Turn the other cheek. Pride is a sin. If you want to become rich, give away your money. If you truly want to be great, you must be a servant. He said that if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away! And He said being persecuted in His name is a blessing. (Wow!)
   According to Jesus, the rich are poor; the up are down; the down are up; the self-righteous are sinners; the sinners are forgiven. The last are first and the first are last.
   This kind of talk is not what one would expect to draw throngs of people to meet their psychological needs! This is the opposite of much of modern psychology's emphasis on "self-esteem" or "I'm OK, You're OK." Indeed, as Charles Colson says, the words of Jesus challenge one to the very core of existence, putting at risk one's whole reason for living.
   R. C. Sproul points out that the question of origin of religion is really not a psychological one but an historical one. The truth of Christianity is not determined by how it could have started, but how it did start.
   Which is the greater psychological crutch—Christianity or atheism? We submit that atheism and agnosticism are really the philosophies to be challenged. Is not atheism a psychological invention to get rid of moral obligation? Because of our egocentricity, God can appear as an awesome threat to us. Atheism and agnosticism want to cover that up by refuting God.