Are religious claims of exclusive truth geared to cut down on competition?

Question

In capitalism, the more choices available means that more people get what they want or need. However, if you convince people feel like a competing product is badly flawed, they're more likely to come back and buy your product.

(If you tell someone that one dictionary misspells words, they may be convinced to buy your dictionary instead. If you tell someone that another religion [or lack of religion] contains flawed truth, maybe they'll join your group.)

Are religions engaging in sophisticated marketing and negative campaigning in order to secure a bigger bite of the market?

Answer 1

in a word: yep

the whole point of a religion is to get people to buy in on your belief system most likely gaining their obedience and (in the case of some unscrupulous cults and spiritual leaders) access to their piggy bank

Answer 2

Really, I think you are correct. It is sad to say, but some religions actually "lie" about what they are all about, and also lie about other religions. Now I am aware that there are some in "all" religions who do not necessarily represent the truth about their religion. They are zealots who desire to "win" whatever the cost, and their religion may not be responsible. However, their religion should police them. Within Christianity there are several cults that seem to keep secrets about who they really are, and what they are really all about. They "compete" for converts. How sacrilegious. Christianity does have its own problems. But some Christian denominations are clean and straight. They are even judged by outsiders when they deal with sin inside their own camp.
However there is a religion that has lying built into its doctrine. They deliberately lie about what they believe, and about other religions. This religion was founded on a lie, and theft and mass murder. This religion is Mohammedanism, or improperly called Islam. It is evil from its very roots. Islamic clerics even try to tell the world that Islam is a religion of peace, and is benign and compassionate. What a lie. Most people in this world just accept what the liars say, and turn around and attack Christianity or Judaism as the cause of troubles in this world. There are many good documentaries that expose Islam for what it truly is, but people refuse to investigate. All of Europe is terrified today because their governments believe that Islamic terrorist are already in their countries with nuclear devices, and are prepared to detonate them. How could this happen? By ignoring the plain truth about islam. Any free country has historical evidence on Islam from its beginning right up to today-they have never changed. They desire to kill all Jews first , then all Christians, then all westerners, then control the world under Islamic law. But, people ignore it in hopes it will just go away. Has the world forgotton that Iraq and Syria were once Christian nations?
One book I suggest for all to read is "Islam Revealed" by Dr Annis Shorrosh. He is a Palestinian, educated with 2 doctorates in religion. He is an expert in Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. He was born and raised in Nazareth, Palestine, he should understand it all well. Read, and see what he thinks about competing religions, and Islam.

Answer 3

If you were firmly convinced that the answer to this question was "yes", then where would it leave you? It would leave you firmly believing that there was no spiritual truth to be had anywhere. Is that a useful position to be in?

I'm reading a powerful cynicism into your question as well. What is wrong with marketing? To me, pure marketing is about knowing and serving the customer. Also, market research and developing growth of market share are essential activities in our society. Making analogies between religious teaching and marketing is fine. However, try exploring the analogy more fully. Have you witnessed religious groups talk about, for example, growth in market share? Perhaps some tele-evangelists do that, I don't know. It seems a little beside the point. Or do you know of ones who develop "products" based on market research? Well, sort of, yes. What I have seen personally is various clerics struggling to find ways to make their churches and temples inviting to young people. The competition they face is not other spiritual organizations but widespread nihilism, greed, lust, gluttony, anger, and so on. And when clerics do that, I applaud them for it. How about a discussion where target groups are discussed and an advertising strategy is developed? I have actually taken part in such a discussion and I thought it was useful.

If you have a spiritual thirst (or even if it's only a spiritual curiosity) then I suggest it's more useful to expose yourself to religious teachings and, on each occasion, ask yourself whether the teaching is true in your life; whether it helps you in your life. Does it bring you true happiness and peace of mind? And leave this worry about market share to somebody else.

Answer 4

When you have invested a lot of your self-worth, your identity, into something, it's very difficult to see value of something very different. This is true not only for religions, but for political parties, sports teams, etc.

What religion gives most people is certainty; the certainty of who they are and how they fit into the universe. It reveals the way a group of people think about the universe, and themselves, and which eternal "truths" they believe are in operation - in their lives, in the working of the unseen behind the physical world.

For most people this is not easy to abandon. Nor is it easy to contemplate that a different view may be more accurate; in fact, it's nearly impossible for most people..

While what you're talking about may be in play, the bigger thing is that many religious people, and especially those who are so invested in their religion that they become clergy, truly believe that theirs is the only valid way, the only truth. It's difficult for such people to look at their religion and say 'This is my truth only, not THE truth".

So every other view must be wrong. From their viewpoint what they are doing is saving people from being taken in by lies.

Relgion is, for many people, the underpinning that gives meaning to their lives. It is absolutely vital, therefore, for that underpinning to be real.

Answer 5

The definition of 'faith' in the yankee history dictionary is: a constructive perception in the actuality, fee, or trustworthiness of someone, idea or ingredient. perception that does no longer relax on logical evidence or textile evidence. The definition in stated dictionary for 'feeling' is: Any actual sensation perceived through contact. Any efficient state of expertise, which include that by way of emotions, sentiments, or needs. An expertise; effect. An emotional state or disposition; emotion. So, religious faith as a euphemism for emotions doesn't seem on an same direction. accessible react with feeling to a distinct's perception, no matter if or not that is sturdy or disgusting. human beings believe they have Jesus of their hearts and can want to experience a huge difference of their hearts. do we surely say what the middle does? The 'blind' is from the Bible. there are a selection of references, like the blind most advantageous the blind and that i change into blind and now I see. human beings believe all diverse issues and believe in all diverse gods, despite the indisputable fact that the Bible, God's note, says there is in straight forward words one genuine God. faith is the constructive perception. In Scotland in the 1500's the Protestant Covenanters, as they were referred to as, does no longer swear allegiance to the King of england and were tied to posts at low tide and left for top tide. That change into purely one style of death. i might want to assert they believed. some got here right here and left slave states and moved to a loose state, Kansas, because they believed slavery change into incorrect. They acted on their faith. i imagine we would want to look at our new hearts given us through God and choose the right and incorrect of something. and promises the credit to God.

Answer 6

You my man are a deep thinker. I myself am a Christian and being so I follow after my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Religion with all their dogmas and theologies and rituals go against the truth of the Word of God.

That being said, I would have to agree with you that many religious orders are following the mammon road to riches. ><>

Answer 7

Psa 119:142 Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your LAW IS THE TRUTH!!!

Acts 10:34 Then Kepha (Peter) opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that Yahweh is no respecter of persons:

35 But in every nation he that reverences him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted by him.


Deuteronomy 6:24 And Yahweh commanded us to do all these statutes, to reverence Yahweh our Father, for our righteousness always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day.

25 And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these Laws (commandments) before Yahweh our Father, as he hath commanded us.

No marketing here.

http://www.yahweh.com/

Answer 8

Of course. There is big money in religion. But even more important, there is power in religion. George Bush was elected based primarily on religion, and look at all the money he and his war-profiteering friends have made! Consider the influence of the Catholic Church!

Answer 9

Listen - there is only one Truth - Jesus Christ and Him alone. Without Jesus, you will not discern spiritual things - because you cannot. You have to be born again - spiritually reborn. I pray you find the Truth - Jesus - before it is too late.

Answer 10

religion and capitalism are from two different realms. you can not compare spiritual things to material ones

Answer 11

This may appear this way. But your eternity is what is in the balance. Not all religions can be right, so one must choose which one.