Is religion the perfect con?

Answer 1

Perfect? No, if it was perfect then I, and many like me, wwouldn't be able to see right through it.

Answer 2

No. Religion is the perfect vehicle for generating political power and getting large groups of people to mindlessly obey your idea of morality. It is also an effective medium for the sexually repressed to help themselves feel better by denying the pleasure of sex to others, either through coercion, fear, or belief that sex is wrong. Along the same lines, it is a great way for the unhappy to make everybody else unhappy with them. If you just want to con somebody, there are far easier ways to do it.

Religion is also a good excuse for the bitter and angry to have something to vent their anger at. Instead of fixing their problems or reversing their miserable attitudes, they can just point a finger at a God, and claim that they are helpless, thus further fueling their anger until they strap bombs to themselves and kill everybody.

Finally, religion also provides a nice excuse for the lazy not to bother doing anything to improve their lives or help anybody else. Why bother to do anything when you can just pray to God to do it for you? And if it doesn't work, just pray some more.

I should note that religion can actually be used as a spiritual pathway but in most cases, it doesn't actually work. Not because it can't, but because people don't want to do the work or have any faith.

The Pet Rock was the perfect con, and it was brilliant. A millionaire made by selling a f**king rock in a box. I love it!

Answer 3

Religion is and isn't the perfect con.

Like anything else, religion can be twisted and abused and mis-used to suit an individual's need(s). There are many examples of this, from the somewhat recent Heaven's Gate cult to the European sun cult to Jim Jones down in Guyana to your televangelist.

Organized religion can also be used for ill gain and national interests: think of the U.S. Civil War -- both the Union and Confederate soldiers claimed God to be on their side. Catholics and Protestants have warred for years in Continental Europe and England / Ireland. And, of course, today's scandals with Catholic priests' abuse of boys (and girls) as well as the rift in the Anglican Church over whether or not to ordain gay ministers add to the divisiveness.

And yet, for many, religion remains important. For some, they can make the leap of faith and see beyond the foibles of the men (and women) in their respective faiths who fall for one reason or another.

I'd ask that you not throw out the baby with the bath water.

If you try, you can still find faith and a reason to believe. Read the Bible: there's still a lot there that can apply to today's life, and that will always apply.

Yes, it's not only a shame but an absolute OUTRAGE at how God's name has been twisted and abused and misrepresented by those with ulterior motives. And yet, maybe that's the point: to constantly have one's faith tested. Don't let the intermediaries prevent you from seeking a relationship with God.

For the record, I'm not overly religious. I don't go to church every Sunday as I perhaps should, for a variety of reasons. But I do attend, I do read the Word and I still have Faith. More than any other time, I believe it's important to establish some kind of relationship with God, if only for awhile. You just might disover something about yourself and the world in which you live.

Answer 4

To an unbeliever religion is nothing..to a believer religion is salvation and everlasting life....exactly what is a con about it and who really benefits? Non believers have the same life with or without....As one who once claimed athiesm I clearly do not understand the preocupation of athiest with religion...Heres the difference between an athiest and a Christian..A Chrstian sees a value in God and God reveals himself to those who value him....If you have no value there is no revelation it should not surprise you that you are a non-believer as the truth has not been revealed therefore it sort of makes it hard for you as a non believer to judge what is true...as truth is revealed to those who find value in God.

Answer 5

A religion can be created around any idea or material item. Generally speaking, whatever is of the most importance to you is your god. But if you can get your head around that there is only one true god and that god does not cause bad things to happen, nor stop them, then you can be on your way to having the deepest of faith in a way of life that will give of yourself rather than take for yourself. Your happiness and joy can only come from within, from your own heart. Take much time to look around you and see that which is so magnificently beautiful in the nature that god has given us. I wish you the best and hope you can find a way to spend time with god. Your heart is his temple.

Answer 6

It is a good con. Look at the nuts in the Church of Scientology.
But an even more effective con is called the Republican party.

Answer 7

No I don't believe religion is a con if you are talking about the spirituality of man. Everything was created by God to live in unity with God, but man in given free will and with his pride is constantly rejecting God so he can worship himself. That's the evil one's biggest con. If he can get you to believe that God is the con then well, he's got you believing in what - yourself?

Jesus warned us of the evil one and how he comes dressed as an angel but is the deceiver. If those who don't want to believe in a God of love, forgiveness and mercy for all of humanity what else is there? You can believe in the evil one's deception, by one who doesn't care what happens to you or you can believe in the God of love who created you, gave you life, and wants so much to revel his love to you and did so thru the love of Jesus. If you want to reject that as a con - I'll keep praying for you!

Answer 8

..... the alternative is really crummy, isn't it?

Would you rather believe in God who asks people to do GOOD things, or would you rather believe in Satan, who asks people to do BAD things?

Satan is the opposite of God. Saying you "don't believe" is just an outward admission that you haven't given it much thought. I'd have to wonder about that. Too lazy to think?

If you don't STAND for something, you'll FALL for everything.

"religion"
"belief"
"church"

very different, those three. Churches are money making machines. Religion -- some are almost like cults. Go and find your belief !!

Answer 9

True religion is not believing everything you are taught, that is the great social-control con. True religion is believing that which you have directly experienced, uncontrived and ineffable ,beyond labels and characterization.

Answer 10

Religion is mans understanding of the TRUTH based on a few, or many people, that choose to follow that bit of TRUTH. God is TRUTH so it is natural for man to want that, but the idea that it has to be found through religion misses the target completely. What happens is that people start to follow someone's or others concept of TRUTH, and then that creates a religion. It is better to find the TRUTH within in yourself as Jesus taught . He did not come to create a religion He came to make it possible for every man to be connected to the TRUTH or God, individually. It is not about religion it is about reality. We were never suppose to operate without TRUTH/GOD, in us. Truth is what we have been created in the image of. It is the only way possible for us to know who we are. We must first find the TRUTH. It dwells inside of us all and Jesus, operating in the mind of Christ, or in TRUTH, made it available for us to walk in that light again. You do not have to pay for it, and you do not have to jump through hoops to find it. If you just ask to see it God will reveal Himself and His TRUTH to you. You can then begin to operate in the mind of Christ too, as you were intended. It is nothing new, as a matter of fact it is as old as consciousness its self.

Answer 11

oh hells yeah it is. youve been listening to george carlin ive seen.

theres no better con! convince people that theres an imaginary man in the sky who loves you and has a magical place for you to live that he will exchance fro faith and money?

damn! greatest con in the world! i might become a priest just so i can get in on the action! i could pay for my film school!