So many prominent leaders throughout history have understood the benefits of having the populace subdued with religion. Doesn't this make you feel kind of...manipulated?
2007-04-08 23:54:24 · 21 answers · asked by Desiree J 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
That's the one thing they never think about until the moment when the pastor is led away in handcuffs, to be charged with embezzlement and sexual harassment; or the moment when the priest and bishop share a screaming headline about complaints of child abuse and cover-up. They refuse to take notice when a beaming ex-congressman boasts about how he "knows God" shortly after his forced resignation under the cloud of a bribery investigation. They don't consider it strange that their President's imaginary friend told him to make war.
They beeleeeve, you see.
There are authoritarian leaders, who believe the masses must be tightly controlled and led, because that's what's good for 'em; and there are authoritarian followers, who believe exactly the same. Religion is perfectly suited to both of them.
2007-04-09 00:14:36 · answer #1 · answered by ? 7 · 5⤊ 1⤋
NO- Actually earliest Christians were communists in the sense that they lived as brothers and sisters in Christ and shared everything under the sole authority of the Church (Christ's representative on Earth). This was a voluntary system without any coercion. <<32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. 33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. 34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, 35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. 36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, 37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet. (King James Version)>> However, Karl Marx and modern communism is evil and wrong for it is not a voluntary system for all. It is the rule of the minority which is wrong (arguable democracy is also). The only proper and moral political system of any kind is a voluntary system where members of communities are allowed to choose to stay or leave the community.
2016-05-20 22:27:31 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, this is the purvue of conspiracy theorists.
Believers are self-serving, as are all humans. We believe in religion because we find value in it, and we refine our beliefs throughout our lives as a means of making our religion more meaningful.
Conspiracy theorists, on the other hand, seem to have a need to cast dispersions on people who are different and really have a low threshold for values. Their morality is not strong enough or refined enough to be accepting of other human beings, nor to stop them from hating others.
The fact that you would even ask this question tells me that you have very little in the way of kindness or enlightenment in your life, and it's really sad. Add to that the fact that you have likely NEVER been manipulated in your life by a Christian, and yet you will create a fiction of the trend anyway.
2007-04-09 00:07:35 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
So do our current laws manipulate us too? In the days when there was no judicial system and no police to enforce any laws, the only thing people had to keep them in line was fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of God.
It helped form communities and create the society we see crumbling before our eyes today. I don't believe in God really, but I believe in the effectiveness of religion. However, we now have a legal structure, a police force & modern science.. and although we're nowhere near finding answers to all the usual questions - why are we here, how did the universe begin etc - religion could still be on the path to obsolecence, at least in terms of necessity.
2007-04-09 00:06:30 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Of course, that's what religion is for. Take the power of the Divine away from the general populace, put it in the hands of a select group of people, start preaching Hell to those who don't believe, and there you go.
This is why the United States was founded on the idea of freedom of religion........
Edited to add....
Btw, I'm not an Atheist, just nonreligious.
2007-04-08 23:59:14 · answer #5 · answered by gimmenamenow 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Just because many religions have this motive behind their actions doesn't mean that there can't be faith in a true God.
No, I don't feel manipulated, because I have a personal relationship with God through what Jesus Christ did for me. I enjoy my love relationship with God every day.
2007-04-09 00:03:02 · answer #6 · answered by pinkrose 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Believers have a get-out clause that stops them having to question their religion. They call it the Devil, or Satan.
Any question or doubt they have is automatically assumed to be a 'test of their faith'.
They are duty bound not to question the validity of their religion. In order to satisfy their 'reasoning' they opt for apologetics, which is kind of like dry-humping the logical thought process; all 'reason' must operate within the framework of their 'holy' book or 'prophets'.
To further complicate matters, they believe that they are NOT moral relativists, regardless of the fact that they, like anyone else, choose which morals to believe, and which ones to discard.
Like drug addicts, they will always find a reason to argue against reason.
Has anyone done a study to find how many born-again religious types come from backgrounds of drugs, drink, abuse or lack of self-control?
2007-04-09 00:10:02 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 1⤋
Christianity in particular began life as a religion of 'women and slaves', a comfort to people who were denied power, or any hope of power, in this world. So much of the theology and practice come out of this. The emphasis on rewards in the afterlife, tolerance of societally-inflicted suffering in this one. Even the dislike of sex is an artifact of that.
Christianity makes an entirely different kind of sense, and a very disturbing one, when you understand this level of its development.
2007-04-09 00:08:55 · answer #8 · answered by The angels have the phone box. 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
I don't feel they do for the ones that did
I guess they cashed in their brownie points
And took the first exit : )
People only fear what they don't understand
Could you imagine the strength in the world if people really understood their own beliefs
I was talking to a Catholic man last night, and there was so much he didn't understand I had to explain
He told me he only knows what he was taught and he never question it
It made me laugh : )
Believe nothing just because a so-called wise person said it.
Believe nothing just because a belief is generally held.
Believe nothing just because it is said in ancient books.
Believe nothing just because it is said to be of divine origin.
Believe nothing just because someone else believes it.
Believe only what you yourself test and judge to be true
Love & Blessings
Milly
2007-04-09 00:03:11 · answer #9 · answered by milly_1963 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
I don't sit in a pew. I don't wear a cross.
I don't 'donate' to a church.
My Sundays are totally mine.
Now, if I could only use the same tactics with government and taxes.
2007-04-09 01:16:06 · answer #10 · answered by peppermint_paddy 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋