Religious Control - Political Forum

baxter · 05-23-2007, 11:49 AM

Have you all ever asked yourself whether the concept of religion was just devised as a way of controlling people. In the Middle Ages, it was a way of justifying another tax. Religion is also a way of justifying social inequalities by making the poor have an illusion of having a good life through religious morals and saying that living in poor conditions) is a good thing etc.

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Religion is the opium of the people
-Karl Marx

Brother Oz · 05-23-2007, 12:04 PM

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Have you all ever asked yourself whether the concept of religion was just devised as a way of controlling people. In the Middle Ages, it was a way of justifying another tax. Religion is also a way of justifying social inequalities by making the poor have an illusion of having a good life through religious morals and saying that living in poor conditions) is a good thing etc.

The problem here is that you talk of religion as one thing, whereas in actual fact there are a whole variety of religions with completely different teachings and beliefs. Some justify social inequalities. Some do not. Some tell us to live in peace. Some tell us to live in war. You can't lump these varied beliefs together.

perdidochas · 05-23-2007, 01:49 PM

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Originally Posted by baxter

Have you all ever asked yourself whether the concept of religion was just devised as a way of controlling people. In the Middle Ages, it was a way of justifying another tax. Religion is also a way of justifying social inequalities by making the poor have an illusion of having a good life through religious morals and saying that living in poor conditions) is a good thing etc.

I think the whole religion=control theory is a load of horse dung.

Religion is a natural consequence of being human. We are born with a need for religion. Every known society has begun with some kind of religious beliefs, from primitive animism to Scientology.

baxter · 05-23-2007, 01:53 PM

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Religion is a natural consequence of being human.

How is it that I'm not religious then? Can you stop generalizing your feelings towards subjects to the entire human race.

perdidochas · 05-23-2007, 01:56 PM

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Originally Posted by baxter

How is it that I'm not religious then?

You have a religion. I don't know you well enough to know what it is, but you have one.

My father is agnostic, but he has a religion--old movies.

Irishone21 · 05-23-2007, 02:38 PM

Considering I have witnessed miracles, I say no... But that is what many people think.

baxter · 05-23-2007, 06:11 PM

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My father is agnostic, but he has a religion--old movies.

How is "old movies" a religion?? I would define "religion" as meaning : The ensemble of beliefs, feelings and traditions that define the relations between humans and the Divine.

But, do you not admit that during the Middle Ages, religion was a great way of controlling people, through the fear of going to hell.

Brother Oz · 05-23-2007, 07:05 PM

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But, do you not admit that during the Middle Ages, religion was a great way of controlling people, through the fear of going to hell.

In theory... in practice, it didn't really work that well. I was quite amused when doing medieval history how little people in a Christianity-obsessed culture cared about, say, what the Pope said. As part of their political maneuverings, Popes were always laying down excommunications on their enemies, which in Church doctrine meant they were damned to hell. And how much did their enemies care? Not one jot. They'd just get some local Bishop who was in their pocket to declare that the Pope was a Heretic, and everyone would go about their daily business.
It would have been a great way to control people, if the Church had been unified enough to lay down one view of who people should obey.

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The ensemble of beliefs, feelings and traditions that define the relations between humans and the Divine.

Buddhism is a religion, but many Buddhists don't believe in any sort of Divine being.

Ygorl · 05-23-2007, 09:35 PM

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Originally Posted by baxter

Have you all ever asked yourself whether the concept of religion was just devised as a way of controlling people. In the Middle Ages, it was a way of justifying another tax. Religion is also a way of justifying social inequalities by making the poor have an illusion of having a good life through religious morals and saying that living in poor conditions) is a good thing etc.

Have you ever asked yourself why you are here ?

Why life is here ?

Why matter and the universe is here ?

One answer IS:

It just IS. I just AM.

The other answers are where religion come from.

We can choose to beleive that the universe just happens to exist. Just because it exists. It's here because it's here and we're a product OF it's existence.

This is ALSO a belief I think. Kind of a faith that it's all just here, for no REASON other than it just happens to BE.

People can then ask "Why?"

Others may answer:

"Because God said "Let it be SO.""

Just me thinking

I know. Sca-a-a-a-a-ry

I do that sometimes. As we ALL should.

FRYandBENDER · 05-23-2007, 10:47 PM

Christianity was started by a guy that walked around being nice to people and was subsequently crucified for it. I don't think that he was starting a religion to control people.