Religion a means to control the masses?

[Heneni]

Originally Posted by BalanceFx

Interesting twist... But why would the masses want to all act in a certain manner? Where did the founding ideas come from? It is not as if people all woke up one day and said I now seek Jesus and the path to the straight and narrow or is it?

There also seems to be some confusion with morality. People can have morals and a strong moral base without religion and without a belief in god(s).

Why would the massas all act in a certain manner? Because we are only united by a common enemy. If control makes us feel good, then the fear of loosing control would make all those who have the same fear come together under the banner of a religion that enjoys control themselves. Loosing control is seen as the enemy...and so we want control, and what false religion has taught people is that god can be manipulated, controlled treated as a genie in a bottle and hard up for approval.

Mostly people who want to get rid of the fear of the unknown god who might decend on them unexpectantly enjoy being part of the massses who agree that god is on your side no matter what....it is good to know that when trouble comes, they can call on god to come and sort their problems out. Its just another form of control, making sure all sides and all angles are covered. Of course god isnt anywhere near the 'masses' that want to control him, but they like to think he is. Instead they end up controlling each other. And they use the dogma taught in church to further their controlling and manipulative lives to the realm of their family life, and everywhere else, they can use it as leverage.

Even politicians will not shy away from having their church activity monitored and photographed if it can mean getting ahead.

[Heneni]

Originally Posted by Makaveli

Religions all have some form of moral code that they expect their devout adherents to follow. Whether it be codified in a religious text such as the Bible, Torah, Koran, Buddhist sutras or any other text, the religion expects you to follow what is laid down in these books as moral law.

Now, is there any way to enforce this moral law? No, there is not, which is why theists still murder, rape and steal as non-theists do, but with one difference; theists believe in a form of punishment if they do not follow their moral codes. For Christians, if you don't follow their moral code you go to the fiery pit of Hell, separated for eternity from God and all good things. In Buddhism, you are cursed to re-incarnate until you reach a perfect form of self; there is also a form of Hell in this religion as well. For most, this fear of divine retribution keeps them in line and keeps them from committing acts considered heinous and immoral by their religion.

Dogma keeps the masses in line by imbuing in them a deathly fear of eternal damnation, and is a means of controlling the masses, yes, but that does not mean the religion is always used in this way, or even this way at all; it depends upon the dominant morality in each country.

Dogma you say keeps the masses in line by imbuing in them a deathly fear of eternal damnation......

Until they switch the TV on and some guy says...it doesnt matter what you do god loves you...please send a donation...and then there is a lump of the masses relocated to another area...but thats only logistics.

There are many religious shops...some offer salvation for free, other say you have to do something for it, some say you need to give money to please god...others have hijacked satan and uses him for levearage.

And what shall we say about these garden varieties? Well....free salvation means...im not being controlled i can get it for nothing. Salvation through works means...i can control my entry into heaven by being a good girl.....
Then there is the most successfull one...give money to the church and god will control your financial situation for you.

It really is only a form of control. But i dont see it as the church trying to control the people, but rather the people who naturally group together depending on what form of control they feel they themselves can have over religious issues, and you will find that there is a religious 'shop' for just about every control mechanism out there.

But lastly the churches that threaten people with eternal doom and gloom are only successful because the people in those churches understand and expect that when they threaten others...the fear of god should enter the one they threaten. Certain mental thinking patterns like to stay in the 'family' so to speak.

[idea]

Survival of the fittest? Anthropologist suggests the nicest prevail ? not just the selfish

[Ben Masada]

Originally Posted by Heneni

Dogma you say keeps the masses in line by imbuing in them a deathly fear of eternal damnation......

Until they switch the TV on and some guy says...it doesnt matter what you do god loves you...please send a donation...and then there is a lump of the masses relocated to another area...but thats only logistics.

There are many religious shops...some offer salvation for free, other say you have to do something for it, some say you need to give money to please god...others have hijacked satan and uses him for levearage.

And what shall we say about these garden varieties? Well....free salvation means...im not being controlled i can get it for nothing. Salvation through works means...i can control my entry into heaven by being a good girl.....
Then there is the most successfull one...give money to the church and god will control your financial situation for you.

It really is only a form of control. But i dont see it as the church trying to control the people, but rather the people who naturally group together depending on what form of control they feel they themselves can have over religious issues, and you will find that there is a religious 'shop' for just about every control mechanism out there.

But lastly the churches that threaten people with eternal doom and gloom are only successful because the people in those churches understand and expect that when they threaten others...the fear of god should enter the one they threaten. Certain mental thinking patterns like to stay in the 'family' so to speak.

+++++++++++++++++++++

No wonder Lenin said that religion is the opium of the nations. And all require faith
as the best weapon to keep the naives of this world under tight control, since faith
dispenses with knowledge. As long as they don't know, they won't question.

Ben

[Heneni]

Originally Posted by Ben Masada

+++++++++++++++++++++

No wonder Lenin said that religion is the opium of the nations. And all require faith
as the best weapon to keep the naives of this world under tight control, since faith
dispenses with knowledge. As long as they don't know, they won't question.

Ben

Faith does not equal weapons of mass destruction. Jesus was not kidding when he said....'will I find faith on the earth when i return?' Did Jesus not know that there would be mass organised religion, of course he knew. So where is the faith he will be looking for? Not in the religous shops i dont think.

Heneni

[tomspug]

Originally Posted by BalanceFx

A powerful and to most an offensive statement.

Religious people are the majority of america. (Amerika if the bail out passes*) Some views that the religious have are majority views. (Here comes my middle aged Adolescent rage and disgust)

• Marriage is sacred and between a man and a woman.
• Gay people are confused and need our support. (Cause we cant stone them people!)
• Atheists are entitled to their views unless they express them.
• Evolution is fine so long as it doesnt discount our creation by the all mighty.

Phew... That was very 1994 of me. (The last year I was a teenager) That is just a sampling... I could go on and on for more specific issues but lets keep it general. If your religious you likely support those bulleted items. Lets be clear. I am not arguing that Religion or your beliefs control society or even you. I am arguing religion can be used to control or influence society. A gun does not kill people, many people use one exclusively for target practice. However a gun is very powerful against our mortal fleshy forms and if used it can kill us. As could a club or even tweezers. (Girl murders best mate with tweezers | Herald Sun) Yes... Tweezers...

Tweezers are a tool... so is religion. You have no idea how some may choose to employ a tool. So if you want to argue this point please argue with yourself in notepad for a while before you post a response.

I don't think it is religion's fault nor do I think religion or even a state or habit of mind in which trust or confidence is placed in some person or thing greater then yourself is bad. I feel Religion is not meant to overpower the individual's will but to expand it. Unfortunately that does not seem to be true today.

What is your view of religion? Do you attend church weekly? Do the views of the reverend, pastor or whatever infulence your decisions on a day to day basis? What about important issues?


*I'm not even sure I would say that. Socialism is more about government helping and supporting the people. This is the government helping and supporting companies as they see fit and heres some things that will also pass and we will repeal later if you pass it... (Obviously I'm completely against the bail out and think most people could not even accurately defend their decision to be either for or against it.) The support in the revised bail out is not even restricted to the USA!

You are mistaking religion for politics. Religions DO sometimes use politics to control the masses, but it is politics itself, not religion, that you are referring to.

[Ben Masada]

Originally Posted by Heneni

Faith does not equal weapons of mass destruction. Jesus was not kidding when he said....'will I find faith on the earth when i return?' Did Jesus not know that there would be mass organised religion, of course he knew. So where is the faith he will be looking for? Not in the religous shops i dont think.

Heneni

+++++++++++++++++++++

Are you sure faith does not cause mass destruction? How do you call what happened to the faithful of Jim Jones? Wasn't that mass destruction? How do you call what
happened in Masada before the Romans got up there? Wasn't that mass destruction?
All as a result of faith.

What Jesus said about finding faith when he returned is part of the 80 percent that
constitute interpolations to the NT. Jesus was Jewish and Jews don't believe that
they will return. Read Job 7:10; 10:21; 14:12; II Sam. 12:24; Psalm 88:6; 146:4; Prov. 2:19.

Ben

[Heneni]

Originally Posted by Ben Masada

+++++++++++++++++++++

Are you sure faith does not cause mass destruction? How do you call what happened to the faithful of Jim Jones? Wasn't that mass destruction? How do you call what
happened in Masada before the Romans got up there? Wasn't that mass destruction?
All as a result of faith.

What Jesus said about finding faith when he returned is part of the 80 percent that
constitute interpolations to the NT. Jesus was Jewish and Jews don't believe that
they will return. Read Job 7:10; 10:21; 14:12; II Sam. 12:24; Psalm 88:6; 146:4; Prov. 2:19.

Ben

Faith does not cause mass destruction....fear does.