On Religion

Religion, one of the topics of ‘impolite’ conversation, and admittedly the focal point of this blog. Religion to me seems a great big conspiracy theory derived to promote superstition and conformity in an effort to control a population of specified people.

Ever notice that religion is often attributed to certain geographical regions? The Mormons (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) ‘Southern’ Baptists, Quakers, Muslims, Buddhists, and Catholicism, all have a place that each thinks about when that name is spoken. Yes, there are pockets of each in any area to a certain extent, but the main group is attributed to a certain area.

Group mentality is used in these areas to promote the religion of choice. While yes, we have the individual freedom to choose what we believe, the children of these religious groups are brought up within it’s circles, often not knowing other options exist, or that other options are ‘wrong’ and ‘heathen’. Views of other belief systems are full of prejudice and fear. Trying to shake a belief system ingrained since childhood is a difficult thing. So the system repeats itself generation upon generation, growing as population grows.

My opinion of religion is that it was originally created to instill morals and a certain code of conduct by it’s followers.  The ‘fear’ of a deity disapproving of one’s actions and can send you to a place of unspeakable pain and suffering is quite a motivator for those that don’t know anything else.

Each religion deems itself as the ‘one path to <insert Deity name here>’ That only those that follow the same religious beliefs are going to go to a blissful afterlife, all others will be damned to pain and suffering for eternity. It’s rather confusing then, trying to pick a religion that suits your view of the world, or if you’re seeking asylum from a painful afterlife, trying to appease the ‘correct’ god.

Is it possible that God has created all religion? To create a belief that there is something out there that is greater than anything we could possibly imagine? He would know that different strokes are for different folks. That one belief system wouldn’t be proper for the entirety of humanity. To have different belief systems that would reflect the world around them, or even be based upon the world around them. The areas of rain forest in Brasil wouldn’t quite have the same structure as some belief founded in the Middle East about conserving water, nor would a belief in the Middle East be quite so understanding of a holy river named the Amazon.

The biggest problem I have with religion is man. Man has always used any leverage to gain more power and prestige. Exploiting others and stepping on innocent people to gain their own ends. Could it also be true that even if God did speak to certain individuals, those individuals might have ‘incorrectly’ translated those words to ensure that they would be more in control, or that they could direct the actions of their followers more accurately? Sure, the spirit of the direction given by god could lead in the same general direction but the letter of the law could have totally different meaning. How else could teachers of the supposed word of god be raking in millions of dollars while the ones supplying the money they live off of have to budget every penny?

Organized religion is a double edged sword. Yes, discussion helps refine our beliefs about who God is and who we are. Organized religion assists us in socializing with other like-minded individuals who share the same or similar beliefs, but organized religion also has the power to narrow one’s view, and become so extremely intolerant of outside influences.

That is enough on this topic for now,

D Manchild