the roman lawyer (and later philosopher) Cicero, said that without religion their society would be chaotic.
do people think that religion is personal or is it used more to control the masses?
the roman lawyer (and later philosopher) Cicero, said that without religion their society would be chaotic.
do people think that religion is personal or is it used more to control the masses?
That's an interesting idea, Corpse. Napoleon Bonaparte said, "Religion is excellent stuff for keeping common people quiet." And - "As for myself, I do not believe that such a person as Jesus Christ ever existed; but as the people are inclined to superstition, it is proper not to oppose them." So in a sense, yes, I suppose you *could* say it was used, at some point of time at least, to control the masses.
After silence, that which comes closest to expressing the inexpressible is music.
-Aldous Huxley
Love, love, love, that is the soul of genius.
-W. A. Mozart
Non scholae, sed vitae discimus.
Not school, but life teaches us.
It's a natural opiate, so to speak. It has just been commodified by the government on occasion to make their laws work out for them. It isn't usually religion's fault, since it is most usually a personal concept, but when religious folks get into government, its hard for them not to let the two play in their power..
If anything power is just the culprit here. Religion without power is perfectly fine. Religion with power can do wonders of beauty, or evils a'plenty.
To think is to blog is to distract is to stop is to destroy is to die is to think therefore I am not good enough
*IWilKikU Chomps down vigourously on his tounge, drawing blood, in an atempt not to bring this thread into the light of current politics by pointing out how a certain un-named despotic "President" utilizes religion to pass all kinds of rediculous laws about how two men can't get married*
...Also baby duck hat would be good for parties.
*snickers quietly at Kik*
I'd say there's no question religion HAS been and IS used to control the masses. But drawing off Sitaram's post in another thread which suggests that there is an innate psychological NEED for religious expression (whatever its manifestation might be) - I would then ask if controll of the masses is what religion is SUPPOSED to be about.
I, personally, would say no - that it is a phenomenon like many others that has been abused in the pursuit of power.
100,000 lemmings can't be wrong. ~heard from a friend
Life is the first gift, love is the second, understanding the third. ~ Marge Piercy
Earth's crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with God;
but only he who sees takes of his shoes. ~Elizabeth Barrett Browning
looking at the religious model of the romans which was based around order of family unity, and ultimatley was used to control people, id say society will get fed up of religion being used to control people. unfortunatley it may take around 300 yrs.
Considering that religions has been around for thousands of years, I really doubt that 300 years will be enough for people to get fed up. I agree with snukes that religion in itself is not about controlling masses but it has been corrupted... just like anything else humanbeings touch...
~
"It is not that I am mad; it is only that my head is different from yours.”
~
Organized religion is the corrupt form of spiruality, which is an individual and personal pursuit that has nothing in common with any organization (s).
Well said.
...Also baby duck hat would be good for parties.
The intelectual actors might be the one who do that corruption, but I think the followers might have the same common interests and needs in spirituality.
Originally Posted by baddad
Si, yes mi amigo, common interests, perhaps an inately human common drive as has been suggested. But the human mind and body have lots of other traits that fall into those catagories that don't require a meeting. Of course, to some this is exactly what is wanted. To each his own, live and let live (the only two platitudes I could think of at the moment). It is the preaching of "This is THE way", excluding the other 6.8 billion perspectives on this planet that I cannot abide......
...Whoa!!! *just noticed Sher's comment re; human beings touching things...*
From transtopia.orgdo people think that religion is personal or is it used more to control the masses?
"Religion is a crutch for the weak & ignorant, and a handy tool for the manipulative. Or, in the words of Roman philosopher Seneca the Younger: "Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by rulers as useful.""
Regards.
Religiosity is innate:
Regards.
do you have thoughts of your own on this? that we cannot necessarily find on the net?
shh!!!
the air and water have been here a long time, and they are telling stories.
I am not a scientist. When making claims regarding psychometric traits, one needs to strictly post research. Otherwise, "my own thoughts" would be strictly hypotheses. I would suggest you learn about the scientific method. Also, studying the academic rules of debating would help youdo you have thoughts of your own on this? that we cannot necessarily find on the net?
Regards.
oh please. others express their own thoughts. i don't think any of us are scientists!
and perhaps you're debating; i'm not. just noticing that you're not putting yourself out here, just parroting others. it's like you're an automaton.
shh!!!
the air and water have been here a long time, and they are telling stories.
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