for what reason was religion started?

Question

was it to control the masses of the ignorant in early times?

Answer 1

I think it began when early mankind - who knew nothing about reincarnation - realized the apparent unfairness of life. His best explanation for this was a system of deities who might grant favors in life and/or the afterlife if he were good enough, sacrificed enough, suffered enough, etc. Religion was exploited in order to control the masses, definitely, and still is.

Answer 2

It's very simple. In the greater scope of things, we are infinitely stupid creatures. We cannot scientifically prove some very large questions pertaining to our existence. So, we naturally try to answer them in a simple way. On top of that, a majority of the people on this planet are nothing but a bunch of sheep- they'll follow anyone that can provide a simple answer. Some leaders believe what they say, most don't. It's just a form of politics- a way to control one's destiny. So many people need the big answers to these questions. Why? I really don't know. Why can't we just be patient and let science us guide us to find the answers? It is getting us there- it just takes time. We evolve- why do we hold on to Ancient beliefs? Because for some stupid reason we need to have the answers now. And then we try to shun science- it scares us. We don't want to know the real truth. Why? Because we believed the easy stuff for far too long. It's scary thinking what the world could hold for us in the future. We are beginning to find ways to manipulate nature- maybe some of this stuff is happening sooner than it should. Imagine being able to create the "perfect" human. What does that mean for the future? Could "Harrison Bergeron" become a reality? I don't know, but maybe we should relax, be patient, and just take our time and maybe everything will be alright. But we have to let go of the simple beliefs- stop killing people in the name of one's God- and truly develop a morality that is beneficial to all living beings. If we don't do that, we will never find the real answers.

Answer 3

Faith is what started religion, because people believed that something greater then themselves exist and is the meaning of their whole surroundings and existence. Call it God, call it a higher power, call it whatever you want.

Religion has survived over a thousands years, and is still here.Though there are those who choose not to believe, but for those non-believes or those of little faith. How does something like that survive? It has survived wars, death, and other disaster and yet. It manages to stay alive. Faith is what started religion, it's a way for those who do practice and believe, to be able to communicate with God, the angels, the Saints. A way to know, we aren't alone in this world.

Something like that doesn't survive over two thousands years, because it was just some story someone made up. There are signs all over the place, we just have to know when to believe without seeing. Faith is blind, you shouldn't have to see it, to know it's there.

Answer 4

Religion
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

The word religion comes from the latin word ligare: to join, or link, classically understood to mean the linking of human and divine. What constitutes a religion is subject to much dispute in the field of theology and among ordinary people. We might begin by defining religion as a system of beliefs based on humanity's attempt to explain the universe and natural phenomena?, often involving one or more deities or other supernatural forces. Religious adherents tend to gather together to celebrate holy days and to pray?, but solitary practice is also usually just as important. Most religions also have a code of laws to be followed, like the Ten Commandments of Old Testament, and some have specific texts they hold as sacred, and totally different from other writings.

Religions are systems of belief which typically deal with

the divine, the sacred and the supernatural,
our purpose as beings, on earth, in this life and possible other states of being,
what happens to us when we die and how to prepare for that,
the nature of Deity (or Deities) (cf God) and what She, He, They, It wants from us,
our relationships with Deity(-ies), the sacred, ancestors, other people, and the world around us, that is, how to behave well in relationship.

Answer 5

To control the masses and calm them. Religions also instill values and morals into the people. In essence, they were created to better the people in th eyes of the creators along with explaining phenomena that were unexplainable.

Answer 6

No, religion was not invented to control the masses of the ignorant.

Human beings have something within us which draws us to the supernatural and to the existence of God. Religions are a consequence of this something.

The Bible refers to this something as "God has placed Eternity in their hearts."

Please be aware that there is scientific and intellectual evidence for the existence of God (e.g., see http://www.godsci.org/gs/godsci/evidence.htm)

I used to be an atheist. Over a period of time however, I grew convinced of the existence of the Christian God, and ultimately committed my life to Christ (e.g., see http://www.godsci.org/gs/chri/testimony/seek.html ).

Cordially,
John

Answer 7

Organized religion, (Christianity, Islam, Judaism, etc.), was created by the wealthy elite class as a means to impoverish and enslave the masses.

Answer 8

YES!! and it drives me crazy that people don't understand that. It was (and still is today) to control them and to give them instructions about how they should act. All religions try to "teach" the same thing.. love everyone else and yourself, be kind, dont kill and dont have pre-marital sex... or you'll end up in hell! It's always about making people fear ending up in hell, and that is the way religion controls eveyone (well, except people with a higher capacity of thought aka. atheists)

Answer 9

1. People will always need to believe in something
2. People who believe in God are more "healthy" because they are not pesimists... they know that HELP WILL COME sooner or later
3. B. Pascal said :"If you believe in God, and God doesn't exist, you don't lose anything ; But if you don't believe in God and God exists, you lose everything"
4. Don't put an equal between PRIESTS and CHURCH... priests are people too.. you know. Trough history they wanted fame and money...like people do. But THE CHURCH is something else. Let's say : "It's what U have in your Heart"

Answer 10

there had to be some form of governing,god first created the universe before man,and by the way the word religion is not in the bible,maybe man created to control???????????