Are all religions merely a crock created to control people?

Question

i mean, there's no legitimate religion that says you can kill people or stealing is fine etc.
Are there any religious professionals amongst us who would be so bold as to admit the scary truth?

Answer 1

Any religion that purports to be based on a revealed deity is a complete, utter and total crock. Unfortunately, that's the kind of thing that appeals to the weak-minded, ignorant and gullible.

Answer 2

I had an answer all typed proving you were wrong, when suddenly it hit me -- in some ways, religion IS created to control people. God shows us how to live, how to treat others, etc. -- like a parent teaches a child. It is our choice, though, whether we accept His guidance or rebel. Either way, we deal with the consequences of our actions. God, through religion, controls us as a parent controls a child. Unfortunately, man, through religion, sometimes manipulates others for his own gain/ego. This is a perversion of religion and not its true purpose.

Don't know as I'd call it a "crock", since it is truth and leads us to a better life, both here and in the next world.

I'm not a religious professional -- there are no clergy in the Baha'i Faith, so don't know what would qualify.

Answer 3

I'm going to have to agree. That's how religion keeps it's followers. And the thing that they have control over is something that everyone will face.......death. If they can convince people that by following their way you will go on to a glorious place in the sky and get to see all of your dead friends and family. And if you don't believe you'll spend eternity in the "bowels of hell" with Satan. I'd say that's a pretty good control tactic. Why be afraid of the truth?? People need to question and think for themselves as well as be accepting of what others believe or don't believe.

Answer 4

I believe that initially religions were intended to provide people with a source of spiritual fulfillment, peace and happiness perhaps along guidelines on how to live a better life, and not as a method of controlling the general population. If you look at the history of Buddha and Buddhism, the reason Siddartha started out on his spiritual quest was to discover the cause of suffering, sickness and death in society. But in many, many instances over the course of history, religion has become abused and distorted, generally at the hands of those in power. (I don't know if this is what you are referring to). In some cases, those in power have either become corrupted or have misinterpreted their religious teachings and use them to attempt to influence and control other people.

Answer 5

MOST religions have a basis of doing what is "right." So according to that you can't go around and commit crimes. It doesn't mean that they are trying to "crock" us, because in no way does this help the person who started the religion. The only thing it does is stop people from hurting each other.

Answer 6

Religions keep people in line. Religions were invented by those who wanted power over others, and use their fears to get what they want. The catholic church is richer than many countries, and bleeds them dry. Every event in history, done in the name of religion just empowered the wealthy and lessened the money of the poor or was a disaster. (The catholic church even sold indulgences--- pay $$ and the church will forgive you of all your sins -- AAAALLLLLL your sins -- to pay for the building of St. Peter's in Rome.) The crusades, the 100 years war, the 30 years war in Inquisition, the colonization of the new world by catholic france, spain, and portugual, the list is endless. Religion is the opiate of the (poor) people. Things, in their minds gotta get better, that's why they get fed the pap of heaven, and if you are a baddie, of hell. No intelligent person believe that crap. The evidence for evolution and DNA is now so strong and has been for 30 years, that it is impossible to have much respect for trinitarian christians, or anyone who believes in angels, heaven as a real place, etc, yadadayadayada......

And yes, there are. The Unitarians, as a group are far from being supernatural, and believe in the community of giving, of loving and beauty of humanity and the mind. Buddhists don't believe in anything supernatural, and don't foist their political ideas on others. But christians???? One professor of christian ethics (who wasn't a christian, but a unitarian I took a class from had a sign on the front of his office door "god, save us from those who believe in you."

Answer 7

Religions started out as explanations for the world around people who didn't have scientific knowledge or technology to get answers. When they started getting codified was when trouble started. Religions became more and more rigid and exclusive as they became more complex. People eventually started making their religion a full-time job--presumably either out of a desire to help or comfort their people or to lead.

Today, religions are about control. Who you can be friends with, who you can marry, what is "good" or "evil", what movies you can see, who you give your money to, etc...

Like any good idea, it's been taken too far.

Answer 8

Religion made a whole lot of sense at the time it was created because there were no educated people (by our standards) back then as well as no laws. Religion is a concept that is no longer needed in educated and lawful countries.

Answer 9

You can't really have it both ways.

With regard to Christianity in particular, one argument is that Christians don't act Christ-like.

Another argument is that Christianity was "created" to make people behave a certain way--i.e., like Christ.

So in other words, if Christianity was "created" to control people, it's doing a pretty bad job of it, since many Christians don't act like Christ.

But to plainly answer your question: No, Christianity is not a crock created to control people. Christ came to earth to save the world, no matter how poorly people behaved. The world needed saving because people behaved like crap. People still behave like crap. The only difference is that we have a savior now. Christ doesn't "control behavior." He offers salvation to beings--i.e., humans--who will continue to behave like crap.

Answer 10

I believe religion started off as a way for primitive man to explain the world around him.