False religion

[JMcSmoky]

There is a strong possibility that all religion as we know it is artificial - created by ancient rulers as a device for mind control. Religion is based on fear- fear of the unknown, fear of death. Maintaining a constant state of fear is a good way to suppress the free-thinkers and the intellectuals, and in turn suppressing understanding and truth. Is religion merely a veil, cleverly created to keep people in the dark?

Most organized religions claim to have the ultimate truth spelled out for you, yet they won't tolerate any scrutiny. Shouldn't that be enough to discredit religion? If the religious are expected to follow blindly and never ask questions, what does that suggest? If all religion were to disappear tomorrow, everyone would be searching for understanding and absolute truth rather than holding on to blind faith. Has the real truth been hidden behind religion for so many thousands of years?

[Metalligod]

quote:Originally posted by JMcSmoky:

There is a strong possibility that all religion as we know it is artificial - created by ancient rulers as a device for mind control. Religion is based on fear- fear of the unknown, fear of death. Maintaining a constant state of fear is a good way to suppress the free-thinkers and the intellectuals, and in turn suppressing understanding and truth. Is religion merely a veil, cleverly created to keep people in the dark?

Most organized religions claim to have the ultimate truth spelled out for you, yet they won't tolerate any scrutiny. Shouldn't that be enough to discredit religion? If the religious are expected to follow blindly and never ask questions, what does that suggest? If all religion were to disappear tomorrow, everyone would be searching for understanding and absolute truth rather than holding on to blind faith. Has the real truth been hidden behind religion for so many thousands of years?

Dude I totally agree with you. I've been trying to stress that very idea to people but they're just intent on beliving that every thing in the bible happened, and happened exactly as it was written.

Proof of that is that in the times when Kings were powerful the churches would tell ppl that they had to pay fees to get into heaven, and to be cleansed,ect.

They would even have women commit suicide because they told them they were impure when they had periods. And that they had periods cause God hated them. And they would have to do some stupid thing the Fathers told them to do and pay a fee to get saved.

Even more historically recent proof is that they used the bible in the Industrial Revolution to control workers. They would tell them that God would hate them and they wouldn't go to heaven if they didn't work.

It's all a deceitful mind control mechanism.

quote:Originally posted by JMcSmoky:

There is a strong possibility that all religion as we know it is artificial - created by ancient rulers as a device for mind control. Religion is based on fear- fear of the unknown, fear of death. Maintaining a constant state of fear is a good way to suppress the free-thinkers and the intellectuals, and in turn suppressing understanding and truth. Is religion merely a veil, cleverly created to keep people in the dark?

No, probably not.

All the evidence shows that religion predates organized civilization, and hence predates organized power structures, as we understand the term. There are certainly examples of religion being used as a control device (hinduism) and even more examples of people using religion to their benefit (one of the Pope Leos - forget which one - is on the record saying that "this myth of Christ" has served him well), but there's no reason to believe this was the purpose of religion. More likely, people were grasping for some sense of control over their own lives.

[JMcSmoky]

quote:Originally posted by Armed&Angry:

All the evidence shows that religion predates organized civilization, and hence predates organized power structures, as we understand the term. ...but there's no reason to believe this was the purpose of religion. More likely, people were grasping for some sense of control over their own lives.

I'm referring to organized religion (holy books, doctrines and such), not primitive groveling.

Why would people construct societies based on irrational customs and rituals, and then enforce compliance with those rituals other than to have control over the populace?

[Hexadecimal]

Because they honestly believe it to be true?

[The_Rabbi]

You're looking at the people who run the religion, not the religion itself.

All religions are true. The fact that you believe in it makes it reality.

[JMcSmoky]

I'm looking at the origin of organized religion. Why was organized religion started?

[BongTech101]

quote:Originally posted by JMcSmoky:

There is a strong possibility that all religion as we know it is artificial - created by ancient rulers as a device for mind control. Religion is based on fear- fear of the unknown, fear of death. Maintaining a constant state of fear is a good way to suppress the free-thinkers and the intellectuals...

No shit Einstein...... what a novel idea. But wait, they've been teaching that possibility in History classes for years.

Ofcourse that's what a lot of the organized religions were - they didnt have mass media and education so still need to control/influence the common populace.

Although not a communist at all myself, it was Karl Marx that said "religion is the opium of the masses".

Look at how religion has tailed off in importance in advanced countries (well except the US but thats an anomally).



[This message has been edited by BongTech101 (edited 03-20-2004).]

quote:Originally posted by JMcSmoky:

I'm looking at the origin of organized religion. Why was organized religion started?

Kid, nobody "started" religion. Like every other concept on the planet, it evolved from earlier concepts. People will gladly act and believe in an irrational manner if it explains something or creates a feeling of control or purpose in their lives. It's not a big conspiracy, and if you think it is, provide some actual evidence.

[BongTech101]

quote:Originally posted by Armed&Angry:

Kid, nobody "started" religion. Like every other concept on the planet, it evolved from earlier concepts. People will gladly act and believe in an irrational manner if it explains something or creates a feeling of control or purpose in their lives. It's not a big conspiracy, and if you think it is, provide some actual evidence.

I dont think this post started with the assertion that religion necessarily was "started" purely as means to control... we can all guess about the desire for early humanity to have a belief in life beyond, and help explain away "scary" natural events.

I believe the point is more that at some point it was recognized as a potential means to assist in control and some people were able to exploit this factor.