Without hearing the priests' response I don't think we can know.
If the priest was honest he would of replied "I told you that because it's a fear ploy we use to encourage new members to join up. Our main agenda is to maintain the power and wealth of the church, and we will stop at nothing to achieve that."
A much more likely scenario however is he would of lied, "Join us this Sunday and be saved or burn forever in eternal flames. Oh, and remember to bring your wallet."

I disagree. But thank you for demonstrating to the forum how easy it was making something religious out of thin air.

Okay, here's the standard definition:
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/religion

Explain to me what I'm religious about?

If you redefine the concept of "religion" sure you can insist everyone worships something. It doesn't take much creativity to argue that a person is religious about something if that is their goal.

For sure, but the religious folk will just simply move the goal posts.

So in other words your encouraging me to give up my life of peace and embraced a life of intolerance?
For example I have a couple of friends that are gay, *shrug* don't bother me, none of my business. (And no I'm not, I have a wife and kids if your wondering.)

Would I then have to dislike them?

But no doubt the question on their minds was "was god just the devil tricking me all along?"

Easy to say when your looking in safety from the outside of the barbed wire.

I've had that a few times, but it only lasted a few seconds.

Whatever floats your boat I suppose. 

I think this is one of your pointless religious preaching threads.

I got as far as this then didn't bother reading anymore.

I'm not interested in learning Greek or Hebrew.
So are you suggesting anyone that cannot read Greek or Hebrew has only ever read one of those false bibles?

See you've avoided the question. The reason why is because you haven't the foggiest idea which is the true bible, same as everyone else.

Fear. People buy them through fear.

I don't use one myself.

You still there BADecker? You keep telling me to read the bible, okay then, which one?

Or by the devil himself. 

Ok. I'll give it a read, you never know.
I'm pretty busy so perhaps you could help me out, what bible shall I read? I don't want to waste time reading all the false ones for obvious reasons.
So can you tell me the true one so I can get stuck in straight away?

Never had a scientist knocking on my door telling me what I should be doing.

Absolutely. I had a bunch of them knocking on my door about a week ago. As soon as the door was open religion started spewing out of their mouths. "You should be doing this. You should be doing that." Oh dear, they was quickly sent away.
The saddest part of all was they forced some boy (7 or 8 years old, their son I presumed) to wear a bowtie and come with them. Poor kid was totally brainwashed into oblivion.