is religion a man made weapon to gain control and power?

Question

im not saying that the belief in a god or gods isss a weapon to gain power, i myself believe there is a higher power but dont you think religion is simply what humans created to show others what they think they know about what is truly inexplicable and unknown?!?!

Answer 1

Only false religion.

Answer 2

Let's take this from a truly secular standpoint. Mathew Alper wrote a book titled, The God Part of the Brain." He proposed that mankind, in his search for a greater cause for existence, created a higher or Divine Creator to keep its sanity when faced with his/her fears of life and death. Now I'm not disagreeing with the concept of a higher guiding force, but history reveals that all cultures have some sort of divine belief structure. Is this significant? Well consider: Most of the wars in history have been about belief.
Having established that religion has been a major influence in the past one can see that some ( not all) have used this influence in accumulating personal wealth and power over others.
Think of this, if the Pope commanded all Catholics to rise up and take control, wouldn't we see major global conflict?
Just a thought...
Bless,
Brother Reggie

Answer 3

Most religions say that they are the one true religion.
If that is the case, then all of the other religions are wrong.
I think some people abuse religion so that they can gain power. Look how many Holy wars have been fought.
How can both sides of a war believe that God is on their side?
Surely they have created God in their own image.

Answer 4

I wouldn't call it a weapon exactly...I think originally it helped to create and maintain cohesion in small human groups, but as populations grew and religious power was realised, yes, it developed into a tool to control and extract wealth and grow in strength and influence. Nowadays, there are still those who get wealthy from it ( tel-evangelists and writers and muscians). I could never understand how people could write religious themed novels and articles and charge money for it. And the Christian music groups make lots of money on God. I believe that the real Jesus would have been enraged over this fact. They must make a living, you say? They could get real jobs and donate their music and books out of the love that say that they have for their GOD...but i won't hold my breath waiting for that. ( I know, I wandered off on a tangent)

Answer 5

Depends on the definition of religion.

When Adam and Eve were still in the Garden, they certainly "believed" in G-d, but I doubt they thought themselves religious people. It was a natural process. Abraham "discovered" G-d, and lived his life according to His will, yet was his lifestyle or whatever it may be called deemed "religion"? He was fighting against Pagan believers- still people who believed in some sort of force.

Thus the term "religion" could be argued to be "man-made". To ascribe to specific beliefs and to categorize people and customs by "religion" is man-made. What it refers to, however, is not man-made, it's a process that took place without thought.

In terms of gaining control and power, religion gives on SELF control, and power over choices and the like. Control and power mentioned here are merely exploitations- some person/people's personal beliefs paraded as "religious" ideals utilized to gain status and power.

Answer 6

Spiritualism isn't a religion, and belief of control and power are ridiculous thoughts for this system, it is one man for himself, but connected to every soul in the Universe. That's how change occurs, if a popular vote comes. Christianity affected most and caused a world known religion, even though spiritualism is true, and christianity is false. I am not denying Jesus, but i deny the true purpose of what he was meant to acheive, but was altered by a spirit. For more of a joke, that went bad when he was cruxcified...for which the words "Forgive them, they know not what they do." is more centered towards that he led himself to a trap and didn't expect to die that way...so he fulfilled his plan, but messed up the joke. I didn't imagine this, i received this knowledge from the spiritual Akashic Book of Records.

Answer 7

The way some of them work on their followers, I'd say yes. But this is not universally true.

But for others, it's the opposite. Some religions inspire their members to stick to their conscience and act on what they feel is right, even if it's unpopular with others.

Answer 8

No. Religion evolved from mankind's mistranslation of the God Yahweh's scientific based instructions in The Laws of Moses.

Answer 9

The ABRAHAMIC religions are. I'm getting tired of people saying "religion" when they mean those religions. My religion has nothing to do with them, thanks.

Yes, patriarchal religion is designed to put power into the hands of men in general, and a few men in particular. Monarchies and Priesthoods worked in concert to control the masses, tax them, take tithes from them, and they burned alive anyone who wouldn't do things their way. It's all about power.

Answer 10

The power to instill morality and scruples can't be so bad, given the fact that so many people would rather do things which only benefit themselves. That tends to be the natural tendency of unguided children.

Not everything is so black & white.

Answer 11

It is nothing but superstitious behavior. All animals do it to some degree. Example, I climbed this tree 3 times, and every time, I got sick the next day, therefore climbing this tree makes me sick, therefore I will stop climbing this tree. (even if it is something else getting me sick) You get the idea. Today it is most definitely a weapon for control and power, but it started as accidents resulting in superstition.