“Religion was created to control people”
By Arnab on May 28, 2007 in Life, Religion
This is what many people with very little knowledge say. This must be the very first excuse that people encounter before they move away from religion and later from the God. In my opinion, it’s all good but I just want to look at this sentence in a bit different kind of way.
I totally agree with this statement that religions were “created” by men or divine power to control the humanity. Otherwise, we as humans would have done things that were socially unacceptable. Religion in the past was an inseparable instrument of the state and law. Religious traditions and beliefs were used to make laws and implement them on people. It was required in the past because otherwise humans would not have any other reasons to follow the state mandated laws. At this moment however, we do not need religion into state because we understand the value of the state and laws and the reasons for following them. We do not need a divine endorsements on our leaders because we “elect” these leaders into power. We have a system of state but in the past we did not have it.
Therefore, yes, religions were created to control people but both in good and bad ways. This control using religion was required in the past and that’s why it was used for that purpose.
Just musing, but I wonder whether it is the word “religion” that man created, rather than actually creating religion itself. I certainly don’t have an answer to this. It just seems strange that the whole question of man’s “creating religion” should arise at all from something that is simply a way of life for many peoples and cultures. Nobody would be able to put a date on when this creation of religion took place, or give it a historical reference point.
I tend to agree with your statement, This must be the very first excuse that people encounter before they move away from religion and later from the God.
Rory | Jun 1, 2007 | Reply
that was a very nice speculation. I personally do not think that men created religion. Humans creating religion by themselves sound a way too much egocentric.
Kotha Rahman | Jun 3, 2007 | Reply
You state that without religion we would do things that are socially unacceptable.
The issue with this is that without religion creating a set of morals, there would be no ‘socially unacceptable’, therefore invalidating that argument.
It should also be noted that religion is simply a set of ritual and rhetoric that one follows, ratehr than their spiritual beliefs. in that, the most ‘rational’ minded scientist is considered religious in some way shape or form.
Jesse | Apr 23, 2008 | Reply
Every human who has ever lived, started life as an atheist. Religion was taught to them by their parents and or community. No one actually needs an excuse to move away from religion, just common sense and an understanding that religion is not necessary for moral guidance, explanations of how we came to be, or what happens after death. Religion has indeed been used to control people but its creation was not for that purpose. Instead it was to explain things early man could not understand, such as lightning, earthquakes and diseases.
TT | May 20, 2008 | Reply
I doubt it, in the Qur’an, science was explained before modern humans even discovered it. So would u say religion was created by man, who didn’t even know advanced science but wrote it down in the Qur’an?
AJ | May 30, 2008 | Reply
In old-testament it talks about stoning people to death. However, since it is not implemented people don’t really care about it. Therefore, stoning people to death is not important in Christianity anymore. However, it was important once upon a time. Now, if the political authority for the sake of control decide to implement “stoning to death” again then it will become important in Christianity.
The descriptions of science in religious scriptures are debatable. In many ways I see it’s more of a interpretation rather than direct science. For instance, it is said that the God created men out of clay. The religious “scientists” say, “look, our religion knew it! haa!”
Arnab | May 30, 2008 | Reply
Arnab we were created from clay. Clay acts as a desiccator, removing water so that large organic molecules can be formed. Also, according to Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), scientists just found that clay may have been a catalyst that spurred fatty acids into small sacs creating the first living cells. Science illustrates that clay is an important component in the beginning of creation which is mentioned in the Qur’an many times: “We created man from sounding clay, from mud molded into shape” (Qurán 15:26).
AJ | Jun 1, 2008 | Reply
Most of these postings make absolutely no sense…you might as well be writing in a foreign language. It sounds like just a bunch of meaningless babble to compensate for the fact that the Bible is BULLSHIT!! The Bible isn’t the word of God…. it is the word of humans who used God as a tool to express their own personal beliefs. I truly believe that Christianity was a man made device created solely for the purpose of control. Christianity was forced on people against their will, and it ridiculous to me that people in modern society still believe that junk is true!!
st | Jun 8, 2008 | Reply
it seems maybe constantine was the savviest one to implement this to gain control of the roman empire and his mother helen wanted it too. so they made the pagan religion of christianity (just another pagan cult)to be THE religion to follow. and those who didn’t were killed. simple enough. and constantine burned books and slaughtered all still following others religions. we do not need this nonsense anymore. just try to be a good person. we all sin. enough with the shame and punishment and death.
emma | Feb 8, 2009 | Reply
If you think about it, life and everything we see around us today started out as a thought in someones mind. Religion started as a thought in someones mind, as a means and guidance and giving purpose to people of why they are here and where they are going. As well as this religion is a way for the masses to be controlled. They try to top us thinking for ourselves, and im afraid that nowadays from birth we are shrouded in distractions in every walk of life, every way we turn, to stop us from knowing and undertstanding the truth. The truth that religion is made from man.
Tomie | Mar 1, 2009 | Reply
god is fake for all u know i made him up he is an emplement of deception to control ur fragile minds into belivein. thats just show how tiny u our in this universe that u believe in such devious plot to control u every state in matter which is what ur are nuthing more more then a rock a plant my shyt ur just a small part in the struggle that us”humans”call life an u might figure out thtat”religion” is a form a government to contorl every asect of ur being till that day u can call me god capitol G.O.D BITCHES
C BRAS | Mar 7, 2009 | Reply
hey cbras, if the concept of the God is a conspiracy then what’s your theory about the creation of complex human mind, physiology and also the earth. Do you really think this was all an accident? Do you really buy that theory? I believe in evolution but do you think without any kind of “divine” influence evolution presented us with such a complex environment?
admin | Mar 7, 2009 | Reply
all human are creatures aliens created in the fabric of time in the most furtile part of the universe which lead to micro organism whitch we evoleved from all life started with a bang in one central point in the center of or universe an i think there were also other places races of intelligent lyfe that may have lived an ther time past. to anwsers ur question admin i believe in evolution is how i came about so in a way my “religion” is sciencetology
C BRAS | Mar 7, 2009 | Reply
rofl
i just wondered if it was Carl Marx who said originally, (originally can be debated) that religion is man’s way of controlling the masses, or something along those lines. We were having this very discussion the other night and my uncle mentioned that Carl Marx was responsible for this quotation
tigerbone | May 5, 2009 | Reply
ps.
also, the new theory of the origin of the universe is now called “M” theory, has to to with membranes in a continuem that flex and touch and where they touch, they form a universe, thousands of universes form and each is only slightly different than the others, and we exist in each of them. Or something like that.
tigerbone | May 5, 2009 | Reply
I think exactly the same way as you do.
I’m not good at english but religion in my eyes looks silly and was invented long time ago by humans to make them behave and do good things.
but when i think about that twice it really scares me to death what is going to happen after i die scinse i dont belive in religion or god.
The thing also is that not many people want’s to belive in that when u die u rotten and get eaten by worms and stuff like that.
neather do i/SORRy for my aweful english but this is all i learned in school
Gleb | Jul 5, 2009 | Reply
“This is what many people with very little knowledge say”
This is what people with very little knowledge say, because their egos are so fragile. Religious people constantly accuse others of being narrowminded, prejudiced, etc, but it is perfectly obvious they are the very definition of that. And they are constantly told by their leaders that they are being persecuted so they don’t ever take other people seriously or treat them with real respect, after all, nonbelievers are out to get them. It is a cliche to see religious people treat others with great cruelty and haughtiness and have no other excuse than “you hate me because you don’t want to admit my religion is right”.
BTW I’m not an atheist, I just think religion is silly beyond belief, and just allows people to be comfortable in their ignorance. Look at the silly posts on this page. “Evolution is just a theory”, in other words, it’s easier to spew silly anti-science propaganda than break a sweat and actually learn the science. Remember what the fox said about the grapes.
FindJohn | Nov 20, 2009 | Reply
Another thing to think about is this In the 10 comandments the first is though shall not kill LOL If you read the bible all it talks about for punishment in 89% of all things you can do wrong, is stone them to death or put to death what a loving god huh! Another one that is a good joke is Though shall not worship any graven image. This I find too funny where in all churches there is a cross with jesus on it Hmm a dead guy on a crucifix or better known as a cross. The crucifix was a device to use to torture people or used to hang a person to death on. That is what these christians worship funny huh! And another good one is If you read the dead sea scrolls? If god made Adam first then put him in a deep sleep removed a rib and made Eve then why was Adam Married to Elisah before eve? The whole story is bull&$@#!!! Here’s one, The word of God came in the year Jesus was born being 0000 anything before being BC and anything after being AD then why did people have other gods thousands of years before christ? Christianity is a newer form of religon thats all and mostly made to control people by fear of burning yet god loves us all LMAO! If there were a god then I would have to say he messed up big time where non of us had done wrong period. Where this is what he made if he did not like it he should have been a better engineer and it would not be our falt it would be his! And the best question of all would be… Whould you really want to be tied to this christianity? After all this bunch of Killers come to what we now know as the USA. The USA was made by people that had no trouble killing almost all the indians just to steal there land for themselfs and do it in the name of GOD LOL I would not want to be tied into a bunch of murderers that kill for self profit using God as a excuse!!! How about this if there is only one God to follow then why are there over 60 religons that use christ as a tool? The whole this is made up to make money and scare the witts out of people by fear If only people saw the big Picture then we could evolve as a race.
Something else to concider! There is no proof of god or no trace of any of the opostlites The roam church Thinks but is not sure that St. Peter is buried there other then that there is no proof and is all based in faith. Hey if there were a God dont you think he could have writen a better book that was based in love instead of hate? But to each his own I guess, As a friend told me a long time ago! Its a good read but to belive in him would mean your nuts! Do you belive in Santa claus and the tooth fairy and the easter bunny there all in the same realness. where told there real as kids but learn the truth after and find that is’s all BS
Corey | Feb 27, 2010 | Reply
Religion was created to explain things. When humans first became sentient, they began to wonder about their surroundings, Why is the sky blue? Why do I need to eat food to survive? What happens after I die? They eventually became aware of their own mortality, and that scared them. Who wants to live with the burden of knowing that when you die, you are gone forever? So early humans created tales to tell their children to explain things that they wondered about, and at the center of these tales, was usually a supreme being. Humans want to feel that they have a second chance.
The question that we should be asking is not, “Why was religion created?”. It is “Why are people still believing it?” When religion was invented, it was to understand things, but why do people still believe it when we have science?
Jasmin K | Jul 18, 2010 | Reply
Sounds alot like the plot from the one lmao
Austin | Dec 21, 2010 | Reply
The claim that there is science in the Quran is ridiculous. The examples cited by muslim apologists are incorrect and by no means science…
ron | Jan 3, 2011 | Reply
I am no scholar but I believe that religion is a product of the times, meaning that many thousands of years ago the creature man was very violent and ignorant. The cruelty that was the norm in those times made people desperate for a change or a savior. So over the centuries religion evolved to meet the needs of the people. It never made much difference so many adaptation were made to meet the need. Now, is it wrong to want a different climate from the one they had? I believe that religion was not intended to be evil but over time it became political and controlled by evil people who are only interested in personal wealth and power. Is any religion better than the other? Well, many were really dreadful, human sacrifice and such. The religions of today are pretty much the same, all about greed and power.
Rick | Feb 11, 2011 | Reply
Nope humans rediscovered it, many schientific studies were done in the past with tools similair like tools we use today
Civilizations dissapear in time, just like tools.
Anonymous | Mar 21, 2011 | Reply
very Interested website!
Ramy Jones | Jul 5, 2011 | Reply
Religion to me has always been a classic way to explain the unexplained. Religion has only survived as parents have forced their beliefs on their offspring from a young age. Turning them into the same ignorant person the parent was to begin with. I have seen many question the Big Bang theory, Plus others scientists have researched. See that word? Researched. What is the evidence that in the Christian faith that some bloke sat on a cloud pointing his finger? Because the nice man in the robe told you when you were 4 years old?
Intelligent yet naive people have been dedicating time and energy into knowing how the universe was made and to some people the question was “who?”
Us humans are far too clever for our own good causing suffering to ourselves as we HAVE to know everything.
Anya | Dec 28, 2011 | Reply