Was religion created as a way to control people?

Question

Cookie Monster!! ROFL!!!

Answer 1

Yes...Religion should be eleminated and christ, the true lord should be praised as he deserves.

now..umm...i think god want's you to...uhhh.....take your clothes off for me. Yea..that's what he said.

Answer 2

With regards to the majority of organizations and denominations, it is possible that part of the purpose is what you say it is in the question, though I don't think this is the intentional purpose for most of them in their conception. However, the ability for a religion, religious group or denomination to control people lies in its use of structure; the more structured a religion is, the more control it can exert over people even when said person/s have no more faith.

The problem with structure is that, while it makes things easier for those handling the group, it is also a man-made effort in doing so. A group who is, say for example, fervent Christians who meet will initially do so out of faith; this will undoubtedly attract others and make the group larger (this example is regardless of what the actual faith is), but when the group becomes so large one of two things can happen: the group can split up, but meet together occasionally, or they can start organizing themselves, which leads to the issue of structure. While some forms of structuring can be said to be from God, most of the organizations I see use structures and activities that, while are not outright bad, are no longer dependent on faith to work on it. Thus, in the event that there is little or no faith left in the group, the organization still remains to keep it intact, even if it becomes vulnerable to the things that the original faith would be resistant to when it was still strong.

This structure, for the most part, is what remains in the majority of religions. Most people will just follow this structure because it is there and it fulfills their needs, but without true faith and an actual relationship with God (or other deity in question) it becomes very hollow. This is why the perception of religion as a means of control exists, and it rightfully does so even if its unintentional.

Beware now, for there are some that use religion intentionally as a control device; from such people you must steer clear, for one must put his faith in God, not in man.

Answer 3

No it was created by mystics. Most religions, at least monotheist religion, were created by religious men close to the desert : Judaism, Christianism and Islam notably. Deserts tend to turn people in mysticism. Then some believers follow. The problems start when followers organize themselves in Churches with their great priests, bishops and other assholes of this kind who do not always give a s...t about your salvation but enjoy the trappings of power. .Having said that the question remains :"Do people need to be controlled or can they be trusted ?"

Answer 4

Surely some religions were, but what if there is a creator of the universe (which I believe) and seeking that creator's heart is true religion? It's been said, and I tend to agree, that the difference between Christianity and other religions is that, "religion is people seeking God, while Christianity is God seeking people." Christianity presupposes us all "lost" and "corrupt," which it doesn't take a rocket scientist to deduce, and offers us reconciliation to a perfect creator by the gracious gift of eternal life, received by faith. Other religions make you jump through hoops and then criticize your jumping. I know a lot of Christian deonominations do that too, but God understands that we're finite, fallible beings. So, religion in the sense of accepting the gift of eternal life from a perfect creator is not meant to be used to control people, but religions that try to scare people into submission to their own agendas by exploiting their fear and ignorance of God most probably are.

Answer 5

First to explain things we didnt understand then some figured out how to control others with it. Human desire for a better world created religion it served it purpose now we have science and reason. Time for religion to stop controling the masses.

Answer 6

It was a mind feeding source before science and now still is. Today we are scientifically controlled but less religiously except some other countries.
We all know that religion saved a lot's lives but caused some other things we have to study and improve religion.

Answer 7

I agree that most religions exert a control on all of its followers..and the free will we are suppose to have it aint there and its not compatible with most religions.For example women are the most mistreated in religions,covered from head to toe,force to live behind the husband,and many more,in some religions if not all they cant even acess the religious titles,is not that a way of controlling people??

Answer 8

Religion is not to control people, it is the guidance to human as what is right or wrong. Our life on earth has a purpose, nobody will ever run away from it in regardless of your belief. The fact is that we will either follow the God or the Satan, we have the absolute right to choose it but our good or evil deeds will have to answer for our position in Heaven or Hell . Life on earth is just temporary as life after death is eternal.

Answer 9

of course it was/is the predomiant role religion plays in many countries political; systems show this clearly, Some Muslim countries are entirely goverened by relgious laws , In the time taht relgions came about societies were lacking in sturture and levels of development by directing the goals of the population in a singular effort this was able to be overcome, another clear indication of this is shown in relgious rules regarding food (hallal , kosher), these rules came about to control people for their own protection hence forth animals that spread diseases through their meat were outlawed by Relgious law , again adultry is really the same ( sex outside marriage ) it is a method of protection of the individual from disease based on the grounds of faith. These controls enated by relgion were brillant and very well intended and purposed at the time but many are hardly relevant in the social conditions we live in in 1st world countries

Answer 10

Every religion I think ( even Christianity) has some aspects in it intended to control people, or at least some part of their lives. But, what is amazing is that God says that we do not get to heaven by works!! We don't have to anything but love Him! That is why He sent Jesus Christ to die for our sins. He is so gracious and loving that He wishes noone to perish. So that means that there is not any { one } set of rules that we have to follow except for His Word. Those that love Him will inherit His kingdom.

Answer 11

Religion was created as a way for our small human minds to make sense of the wonderful world around us.