Is religion a form of mental slavery?

Question

If so, then who are the slave masters?

Answer 1

I am a journalist who regularly covers religious groups and religious issues.
Sometimes religion can be mental slavery, but the crazy part is that, ultimately, when that happens, it is about people enslaving themselves, choosing to be mastered by a rigid and oppresive thought system.
On the other hand, for some, religion can be liberating and enobling, giving people a sense of foundation in thier lives.
In the end, it is about the strength within.
The weak become slaves to religion.
The strong use religion as a means to enlightenment.

Answer 2

Organized religions can, and have, certainly function as a form of mental slavery. A religions hierarchy can exert control over the mental development and actions of its members to further its own benefit, or more commonly today, its own political agenda. This, however, would be generally unintentional, because a rational, questioning person would start to think that they disagree with the teachings of a particular religion and begin to question their own membership in said religion. This mental slavery, if DELIBERATE, is very, very rare. In which case the religion would technically be classified as a Cult. Many right -wing evangelical Christian churches today could certainly fall under this category. Some religious scholars today also have begun to question whether Islam is technically a religion or a cult due to it's intense indoctrination of its adherents and its lack of support for varying opinions within its ranks. The slave masters, in any case, would be the church officials or elders.

Answer 3

Everyone has free will, and I respect anyone's intelligent choice as to their religion or beliefs. There are so many religions out there that if you don't like what they are preaching you can always try another church or denomination. You can even start your own church! Most Catholics don't believe in everything the Pope says or even the Bible( come on Jonah and the Whale?).
Religion becomes "brainwashing" if you indoctrinate another person's beliefs (see cults) or you coerse ( for ex.saying " you are going to hell if you don't give me your paycheck!") or If you are forced by someone such as your parents or Tom Cruise than yes it is slavery. What's really scary are the evangelicals. Jesus Camp and Friends of God are f***ing scary! If there are Slave Masters then I know Joel Osteen is one!

Answer 4

possibly. The argument is this. WE, the people, are all animals. We need to thrive and give birth to off springs. So, therefore, we neeed to have, find, or form couples and get married. But, most religions do not allow priests and nuns to have sex. So, this defeats the purpose of us "being". Its possible that there is a different purpose to life that we will find out after we die. I do have to say, MOST religions do not allow the high priests to have sex. BUT, why are christian pastors allowed to get married? They do not fall into the category of most religions even though nearly all religions follow Jesus Christ. Slavery or not is hard to say. Some countries view that the priests are always correct. So, are they mentally enslaved if that high priest speaks the truth? In some countries these priests are the high courts of the country. What if you are not Catholic? Ahh....then theres Buddhism..It allows you to do whatever you wish so as long as you dont bother anymore....once you do something bad, you owe that to the person that you caused the suffering to....View it as you wish, but i feel that there are not too many "real" religions out there...

Answer 5

Religion is a delusion. If anybody could be said to be the slave masters, it would have to be the dead people who formed the major religions of the world. Their ideas created organizations that propagate both members and their personal mental cages perpetually.

Answer 6

I believe we are the slave masters, because as Bob Marley said, "none but ourselves can free our minds..."

Yes I think religion is a form of mental slavery. People refuse to see things for what they are because they look at everything in the context of religion.

Back to Bob Marley to prove this point: "have no fear for atomic energy cause none of us can stop the time. how long shall they kill our prophets while we stand aside and look? some say its just a part of it, we got to fulfill the book". People refuse to look at knowledge, they beat down the scientists who are bringing out new ideas, and they say that progress is evil, and it is fulfilling Revelation.

Answer 7

Religion probably is,but not being spiritual.The slave masters are the ones who ministers the misconceptions.God is not a slave master like they would have us believe,if He were He would not have given us free-will. May God bless you.

Answer 8

Sin is slavery. Ask anyone addicted to anything. Uncontrollable anger is slavery. So is hate, jealousy,and any other emotions or habits we can't control. Religion offers freedom from these things. I'd rather be a slave to righteousness than to evil.

Answer 9

Slavery means you were forced to live that way, and there is no chance of escape. Most religions allow you to choose whether or not to believe, and if you decided to not believe, you are free to leave. Of course there are the extreme religions that are a form of slavery, but in general, religion is not a form mental slavery.

Answer 10

If only it was merely mental. Real slavery is condoned by the bible. many people are treated no better than slaves in the name of religion even now in the 21st Century.