"Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by rulers as useful."
Lucius Annaeus Seneca "the Younger," Roman stoic philosopher, writer, and politician (4-65).
2007-07-20 04:30:07 · 17 answers · asked by Sapere Aude 5 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
Remember this person lived during (4-65 ACE).. at the time, I would imagine, the common people were the people who would have been uneducated.
2007-07-20 04:41:38 · update #1
ACE After Christian Era
2007-07-20 14:47:29 · update #2
agree completely. rulers have always used religion to control the populus, and the educated are able to see through that while the uneducated, or those who have no desire to see beyond religion, do not.
2007-07-20 04:40:55 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
It's just as true today. Look at the Muslim world where the poorly educated young men are led around by religious leaders into doing things.
Another good example is found in the banning of books. Religious leaders ban them for their own ends and their more naive flocks (the common people) obey. The more educated don't and often go looking for new churches, which means the religious leaders have successfully separated the sheep from the rest of the flock.
Religion has always been used to lead the gullible and uneducated around. The wise know this. Rulers are acutely aware of the power of religion and often use it for their own ends. Heck, Bush has even tried it.
2007-07-20 05:58:19 · answer #2 · answered by loryntoo 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, the statement is cynical to begin with. And it's true in that this how many people feel about religion. And it is true that this is how many politicians and even some clergy manipulate people.
But true religion is true whether believed on by the ordinary man, the intelligentsia or the politicians, which is how this would translate out today.
The intelligentsia often live in a world of theory, far removed from life; the politicians often live in a world of money and power, far removed from life, the common people often have great common sense. So who is truly the wiser? The one who believes to his spiritual and moral comfort and ethical actions, or the ones who live in a world of theory and/or manipulation for personal ends?
In that sense, Seneca was wrong. And it is possible that he was merely making a comment on what he observed in society. There is nothing in the statement itself to say that he even agreed with it (one would have to see the context), because he used the word "regarded".
Maggie
2007-07-20 05:40:36 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with it to a certain point. When people believe in something, of course we are going to think that it is true whether it is religion or another matter. Except the wise wouldn't think it is false b/c how can they be certain what other people's beliefs are false? I think the wise would respect others opinions and views.
I agree rulers think it is useful, just look at our president. He uses Christianity to help his "causes and reasons." Just like how in the dark ages the churches used religion to manipulate people and to make them followers.
2007-07-20 04:46:52 · answer #4 · answered by colorfulsunrise514 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
To some effect I agree... Yes most common people believe religion to be true and more wise people believe in the BIG BANG but I'm not sure about rulers seeing it as useful... if anything that just see it as a loophole!
2007-07-20 04:43:03 · answer #5 · answered by Jess 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Being as he is a stoic philosopher, it's no surprise he said this. And, yes, I think some people believe that to be true, but the truly wise, will see the truth in the facts. So I believe it to be false.
2007-07-20 04:35:04 · answer #6 · answered by Joshua B 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It's basically true. Religion is a tool to control people. They need something to believe in or they wouldn't be able to go through life. Some points of religion can be proved, but that doesn't make the religion true.
2007-07-20 04:41:05 · answer #7 · answered by Tara 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
whilst we are at it: "faith is the opiate of the lots" (Karl Marx). i think of blind faith is a few thing it particularly is greater handy to push off on people who're undesirable and uneducated than it particularly is on people who truthfully have time and centers to think of approximately issues. Philosophy is a wealthy guy's activity. quite interior the previous rulers have used "be good now by using fact inspite of the certainty that your existence sucks now, it particularly is going to be greater advantageous once you die" as a fashion of preserving nearly all of the inhabitants in line. of course that is going alongside with "suicide is a sin" or you will possibly finally end up having all your maximum suitable workers leaping off tall bridges. in spite of the undeniable fact that, none of this cynicism proves that God would not (or does) exist. it particularly is a fact approximately human beings. Einstein believed in God. for sure he had time to think of. in spite of the undeniable fact that, Einstein did no longer have confidence in "blind faith" and he quite grow to be very cynical approximately prepared faith - by using fact it stopped looking like a non secular concern and started looking like a potential concern. Militant agnostic: i don't understand and NEITHER DO YOU.
2016-10-09 03:11:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes that is definitely one popular way of looking at it, said by more than one famous person (another famous one: religion is the opiate of the masses). however i think that it is also true that alot of "wise" people who spend a large part of their lives without religion end up returning to it towards the end of their lives. fear of death? who knows? but i guess another philosophy could be 'better safe than sorry.'
2007-07-20 04:41:02 · answer #9 · answered by KJC 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Agree completely. Religion is a way to manipulate people.
2007-07-20 04:33:17 · answer #10 · answered by bryanccfshr 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋