the inherent manipulation in "Jesus died so you could have a relationship with God"

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There is a common form of manipulation that occurs in the modern church:  the statement that Jesus didn’t die so you could have a new religion, he died so you could have a relationship with god.

This manipulation is received with welcome.  Apparently, it is not even regarded as manipulative.  Why?

I’m not going to address the notion of the “historical” Jesus, the matter of whether or not he actually existed (something I obviously dispute).

The notion that someone, anyone, has to die in order for you or anyone else to have a relationship with God is rather macabre, not to say bizarre. 

Why should someone, anyone, have died in order for you (or anyone else) to have a relationship with God?  It seems to me that if you want a relationship with God, it is much easier to say “hey God” and start the conversation from there (apologies to Judy Bloom), rather than predicating your relationship with God on someone’s death.

I agree with Abelard.