Religion as a mere adjunct to Worldly Life

In John Bunyan's "The Pilgrim's Progress", dealing with the spiritual journey of "Christian", he meets a "Mr. Worldly Wise-Man" of the town of "Carnal Policy." Christian tells him about the burden of sin he is carrying. Mr. Worldly Wise-Man directs him to a town called "Morality", where dwells a "Mr. Legality", who will help him get rid of his burden. He has a son, "Civility", who can also help him.

However, before Christian could go on this false way, he meets "Evangelist" (True Spiritual Teacher), who guides him back to the correct way.

Later, Christian meets "Money Love" who says: To become religious is a virtue, by what means soever a man becomes so. It is lawful to get a rich wife, or more profit. The man that gets these, by becoming religious, gets that which is good of them that are good, by becoming good himself; so that here is a good wife & good profit by becoming religious, which is good.

Even though Bunyan wrote the book in 1678, its relevance is evident even now, as the function of religious leaders of all denominations is viewed as helping people in their worldly problems, rather than giving them spiritual guidance. It is sad to see them as talking like Mr. Worldly Wise-Man, Mr. Legality, Mr. Civility or Mr. Money-Love rather than as true spiritual advisors.