Religion is a self-perpetuating behavioral control mechanism using fear of an inevitible judgement by a deity beyond direct influence. It serves to normalize behavior of large groups to allow humans to more comfortably interact in numbers beyond those who an individual can know personally.
Additionally, religion is used to create differentials in power and authority within a society to organize and direct control. Most commonly, this includes divisions of control by gender and establishment of or support of monarchies.
The dark side of this is that many times, the human organism has difficulty attaining the required ideals and it causes conflict between individuals, within individuals, and between groups of people. Many of these requirements are common sensical and may have had practical value, but they tend to be held for irrationally long time or to the point of absurdity.
Even on its best day, religion is also a mechanism of cruelty...
2007-03-16
18:58:34
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6 answers
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asked by
Deathbunny
5
in
Religion & Spirituality