How is religion used to manipulate people in the world today?

Question

This is for school and I just need expamples please. I'd prefer example of certain religions. Thanks.

Answer 1

Anytime you're able to get people to believe something is true without proving it you are then able to influence other things they believe in to, like right and wrong and good and bad.

One prime example is George W. Bush convincing Christians that that god is on our side invading a country, destroying it's infrastuture. and killing innocent people who have no way to escape.

Answer 2

Before answering this, I want to make the distinction between organized religion and a personal relationship with God. Religions are man made, man organized and man profitable. A personal relationship with God is special to each individual.

Most organized religions hold a degree of control over those people who follow it.

For example: Muslims (mostly the fundamentalist/radicals) are fighting not only the Judeo Christian people of the world but are fighting between themselves as well. Much of the killing going on in Iraq currently is the result of the degree of manipulation that the leaders of the various factions of the Islamic faith have on their followers.

Christianity as well has had and still has its share of people who use it to manipulate others into donating money or following a particular political course. Centuries ago, Christianity killed many people during the Crusades under the guise of religion when in reality it was used solely to further the agenda of the leaders at that time.

These are the two most prominent examples but you will find dozens more as you search through the worlds history. People have been starved, gased, beaten, taken as slaves, run off their land etc......all in the name of one religion or another.

None of these instances however were ordered by God. Instead, people have taken their own interpretation of the teachings of their religion and made it fit their agenda.

Answer 3

Just take a look at sophisticatedlauren's answer. Most people know God is not in our constitution and was added to the Pledge & to our currency in the 1950's. Who do you supposed misled sophisticatedlauren? Possibly the church?
Because they want to promote the Christian Nation myth? Because they want to control the government? Because they want to outlaw abortion in order to oppress women?

Catholics go to Africa where children are dying of starvation and then withhold birth control to dirt-poor women so they have more babies. Then the Catholic church can appeal for more donations to help the children. The adults aren't given condoms because it might prevent a pregnancy, so the Africans are now dying of AIDS, leaving even more children to starve and be used for prostitution. Oh dear, better send some more money. Of course, only a fraction goes to African children. You do know the Vatican has more money than most Nations, don't you?

Take a look at the Crusades where men were recruited to "defend the faith" and make war when most of them had never even read the Bible.

Centuries ago the Catholic church sold "indulgences" -- for a price the priest would pray for your soul. Read the Bible - women were also required to bring a sacrifice to cleanse their "sin" of childbirth and menstruation. They had to buy a dove to be sacrificed - and doves were sold right in the church. How convenient!

Enough for my rant - Yes, money, power, control of the masses - a way to make people support wars on other "tribes" or countries. Just like we have now with our "Christian, Born-Again" president.

Answer 4

Manipulate is not the right description of Christianity as it is a voluntary commitment.
Manipulate would be like getting someone to do something bad by promising a great reward in heaven. That would not make sense even-God rewarding evil with good.

Answer 5

The most obvious use of religion to manipulate today are al-Qaeda. Here you have a group of fascists who distort Islam into something that justifies killing innocent lifes. Even to the point of sacrificing young children to blow themselves up with a bomb. I cannot think of any other more destructive and manipulative use of a religion today.

Answer 6

I wouldn't say religion is manipulating the world around us, but it does take a toll on what we do and don't do. Everywhere you look illustrates GOD as being the supreme ruler. Its ultimately how you picture you with your beliefs. The government uses GOD as the main picture for many reasons: At the beginning of history God was wrote in the Constitution, on money, IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, and court systems. You can't just focus on one religion because there are many. God is the main one because it can be used in the religion of Catholics, Muslims, Christianity, and many others.

Answer 7

For instance a powerful Sunni Muslim cleric convinced several Iraq goverment officals to resign. So yes he used religion to try to manipulate the the Iraqi government.

Answer 8

Bin Laden is telling Muslims they go to heaven when they blow themselves up surrounded by innocent people.
Bush, when he tells he's talking with god and later says that god is behind the USA, instead of asking for gods blessing or something like that. Especially after 9/11, when things got rough and everybody stood behind the president like he was the 1. behind god, he abused the religious people to get support for the Iraq attack, to make it look more like some sort of holy war. Just like Osama is telling the Muslims.

Answer 9

The whole idea of a judgmental God who would allow eternal damnation is a simple scare tactic to get compliance of believers and control their actions.

The idea that the death of Jesus washed away the sins of the world is a guilt induction tactic that is also designed to keep self esteem as low as possible so believers are easy to control.
Love and blessings Don

Answer 10

Well, for one thing. The general concept of religion is used by athiest to manipulate the weak minded, just like religion is. WHen I say weak minded, i mean the lost, scared, confused, lonley, hurt, etc. etc. Maybe you can discuss how the religious have become targets themselves, just as they create targets.