religious preachers use a common tactic and that is to attack at your weakness mental traits; your fear.
when they can put fear in you, they can take the reasoning from you,
when they can take the reasoning from you, they can put guilt into you.
when they can put guilt into you, they provide "salvation" for you.
and if they can provide "salvation" for you, they will expect your obedience.
and when they get your obedience, you are pretty much a sheep for them to control.
that is why they always refer to a group of christians as a flock of sheeps.