Another discussion...?

Question

this isn't a question as much a topic to discuss over. What do you think of religion as a source of power? I put it this way.

"The problem with religion is, at its source is power, to control that power priests must keep the masses undoubting, it is the truth, it is why I turned my back upon religion long ago."

This is my opinion, my best answer ill be the most elaborate and best supported question.

Zeroplusless, you are right, early churches were selfless, they BELIEVED, they had morals that they followed to heart, but after a thousand years these morals are out of reach to even the pope.

Answer 1

(Note: I was raised Catholic and now consider myself agnostic.)My observations of religion throughout history: Religion has always been there. All religions give guidelines for how to live life. Many people have died for the sake of religious beliefs.

Religion has always been there... How many religions (including all of the "extinct" religions) have there been? How many do you worship? Do you really have reason to believe that yours is the right religion? Haven't you noticed that most children worship the same religion as their parents?

All religions give guidelines as how to live life... the 10 commandments: dont kill, dont steal... Yup that these types of things sound good to me. Did I really need a list of things I should not do? What about torture? Why isn't that on the list? Through education I developed a moral compass and a concious. A way of knowing what is right and wrong.

Many people have died for the sake of religious beliefs... This is my beef with religion. It unites those within it, but it divides those of the different religions. If its such a good thing why do so many die in its name?

So why am I not atheist? I honestly don't know if there is a God or not. Maybe God did create everything and is now on the sidelines. I hope their is a God. I really do. My dad's passing was one of the hardest experiences of my life. I hope he was not reduced to nothingness. Still I must be honest with myself. I DONT KNOW. Anyone who says they do is lieing in my opinion. If they did really know then it is no longer a question of faith. Sure if I met God I'd worship him/her/it/them. But I'm not going to blindly follow ANYTHING, much less something as powerful as religion.

If there is a God and they stand in judgement upon a person's death I do not believe that God will care if we went to church on Sunday, gave money to the church, or repented before our death. They will care how we lived our life. Did we try to improve the lives of the people around us? Did we try to do the right thing? Did we treat others as we wish to be treated? And if there is this judgement followed by a heaven/hell, I believe I will be meeting my dad in heaven. Until then I will try to do the right thing, not because of religion, but because ITS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

Answer 2

I dont think until just now, I considered religion as a source of power. So, Im going to talk it out a little right here.

Religion is powerful in gaining followers, it appeals to like minds. Run for president, claim religion, you'll get more votes. Run for office in a Mormon society, claim to be Mormon, your a shoe in. Religion means power, and gain, to those that may otherwise have little or none.

Religion is power for religious leaders. Keep your flock faithful, disregard any thought you have that it could be wrong. MANY religious leaders do not believe, nor practice what they preach, but there lives are better if the "flock" stays in line. The bigger that flock, the more money, the more power, the more esteem they will have.

Religion is power for the individual. It gives "proof" when there is none, provides comfort and a sense of well being when no other would exist. It provides the holier than thous mentality that tends to follow religious hard cores around.

So, yes, I see how religion, at its core can provide power to anyone who wants to use it in that way. And if they do, knowingly, chances are they are not as "religious" as they would so portray themsleves, and may only be power hungry.

Hmmm, I never looked at it like that before. But I believe denominational religion is all man made anyway, although I never realized power may be the reason behing it, but now that I look at it, its possible.

Answer 3

You are absolutely Right! Religion was made by man. I believe that if you truly want to find God, you will. You don't have to be a part of a church to pray. You don't have to select a denomination to read the Bible. Sadly, the Catholic church discouraged people from reading their Bibles. Why? Because, you have more power over people who believe blindly. All people who attend any kind of church should read their Bibles. Really look into what is being said and find out if it corresponds with what the good book says. It's so easy to take things out of context and say that it means something entirely different. You can't just verify that what was said is there. You have to read the whole story to understand what one sentence means. For example:

"Do you believe that my being stronger or faster has anything to do with my muscles in this place? Do you think that's air your breathing, now?"

Now, if you've never seen "The Matrix", you have no idea what that means, and I can make up anything at all to explain it to you.
I could say that that was a sentence from a story about Atlantis. If you don't read the whole story, you don't know if you're being told the truth.

A cult is a religion. All those people who commit suicide just because they believed what someone told them. How much power is that? Or the wacko in Waco who was having sex with both mothers and their daughters (what? TELL my daughter to have sex with you?), because they believed in him! It was their religion.

Yes, religion is power. As asked by Kahlil Gibran "Did God make man or did man make God?"

I believe that God made man and man made religion.

Answer 4

You might just as well adapt the statement to say that the problem with people is that we all desire to hold power over others. It is part of our flawed human nature. Religion that follows this pattern cannot be from God. The extent to which a religious practice enables mankind to lord it over others is the extent to which that religious practice is bankrupt. If your religion refuses to allow you to think and question, run!

Howver, when you look at the early Christian church (and indeed the church that the Bible advocates), it bares very little resemblance to the kind of religion you speak of. The church was selfless, even sharing their possessions (Acts 2:42f), they were persecuted and suffering (1 Peter), and they were told that they were a unity of equals and forbidden from exploiting one another (1 Peter 2 'Priesthood of all believers'; Ephesians). The only law guiding Christians is the law that we love one another greater than ourselves. This is not the hollow, power-and-money mad church that we see so much of today.

Answer 5

Turning your back on religion was a good thing. Religion will
kill you, just look at Islamo fascists. On the other hand
develop a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. That
will empower you forever. Luke 10;19, Behold I give unto you
power to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the
power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
I Corinthians 13;8a, Love never fails!!!!!

Answer 6

Religion should not be the source of power, but it should be strong enough to guard the people from the mistakes of and ill use of the politicians of the power in their hands.
Religion should be the true sincere advisers of the Govt., but should not interfere in the running of the country.