What Is the Purpose of Religion

[said]

Are the various religions to respect people's faith? Or for some other purpose altogether?

Is Church maintenance, vicarages, choirs and clothing all paid for by the dwindling donations given in the collection tray?

[silver fox]

Are the various religions to respect people's faith? Or for some other purpose altogether?

Is Church maintenance, vicarages, choirs and clothing all paid for by the dwindling donations given in the collection tray?

All religions are about control and power and always have been, whether it's from the local witchdoctor or the pope, the concept has always been to keep the masses in their place.

Education and the ability to reason and think for ourselves is the enemy of religion, sadly there are still too many who have the naive belief that their way and their way alone, is the only way and are prepared to murder in support of their belief.

[gazaprop]

All religions are about control and power and always have been, whether it's from the local witchdoctor or the pope, the concept has always been to keep the masses in their place.

Education and the ability to reason and think for ourselves is the enemy of religion, sadly there are still too many who have the naive belief that their way and their way alone, is the only way and are prepared to murder in support of their belief.

Couldn't have put it better myself - Karl Marx referred to it as the opiate of the people.
How anyone with even the most basic level of education can believe the fairy stories put out by these charlatans is beyond my comprehension.

My son attended a local Catholic high school and got quite severely reprimanded by them for describing their religious services as 'Harry Potter live' - brilliant. He got a pat on the back from me.

[DixieRoy]

Simple answer is control of the masses by the so called elite since stone age times.

[Albion102]

Religion helped people make sense of life and the universe in a time when we didn't understand either. This was then seized upon as a means of controlling people. We've now gone past that stage, we understand life and we have secular mechanisms for control.

I personally see it as a key part of the evolution of the human race. We were originally programmed to be greedy, lustful and murderous as it was the best may for "pre-society" humans to survive in a dangerous world. If you have a penchant for post-apocalyptic fiction, you'll see many predictions of us ultimately returning to that state.

[Hamble]

Originally control.
Enough control and money to fund an army and land and wealth.

From the wealth came privilege and altruism.
Our first schools were charity.
Later came hospitals.

Modern religion retains control and wealth in the Christian Church.
Other religions minus the wealth rely on bullying.

[rolling-thunder]

Religion gives comfort to those who feel the need for it.
All the rest has been said?
Religion is a source of strength, it is also a destroyer.
I will take a step to the side & not get involved. People can believe what ever they wish to believe as long as they don't try & force it on me. In the Army I willingly took extra duties rather than attend Church parade!

[Little Londoner]

All the above are correct, you only have to look around the world at the atrocities being carried out in the name of Religion.

[justbecause]

If we didn’t have religion, we’d have to think up brand new excuses for starting wars.

[said]

All the above are correct, you only have to look around the world at the atrocities being carried out in the name of Religion.

As you say - all the above is true. But there are certain religions, one in particular, that portrays one face to their congregation and another for a completely different agenda.

"When Charles Taze Russell was just eleven years old, he entered a business partnership with his father through opening a chain of clothing stores. In a few years, young Russell sold the stores and his
entrepreneurial spirit moved him in pursuit of another business, the business of religion. Russell quickly realized people can easily be motivated and remain loyal to anyone in the name of God who is shouting the end of the world is near. The power of gullibility comes into play.
Russell was not a humble Christian Pastor helping people
connect with God and his Kingdom. He was a savvy and sharp salesman.
Today, this multi-national and multi-billion dollar business empire is
cleverly masquerading as a financially modest Christian religion. The business growth and success of the organization is phenomenal, and through examining the evidence one can solidly conclude that the leaders utilise devious business schemes which are based on religion.
The organisation keeps their congregation ignorant of its real purpose. The congregation helps to raise money in the belief that it is for the running costs of their particular church. Those who are employed within the organisation for their expertise - are paid just pocket money, but they are given free houses, free cars, free health care etc., which means they are employed for life and dare do nothing to contradict the organisation.

[said]

All religions are about control and power and always have been, whether it's from the local witchdoctor or the pope, the concept has always been to keep the masses in their place.

Education and the ability to reason and think for ourselves is the enemy of religion, sadly there are still too many who have the naive belief that their way and their way alone, is the only way and are prepared to murder in support of their belief.

That was the original intention - but some have developed into very unreligious concerns.

[silver fox]

That was the original intention - but some have developed into very unreligious concerns.

Not at all if any religion preaches that all other religions are inferior and everyone must comply with "our" way or die, that's still a religion, frankly through history that has been the way even between factions of what are ostensibly the same religion.

Sure there have also been the evangelical preachers who have managed to con enough people into throwing money at them, turning a religious "crusade" into a very lucrative business.

[Darkside]

All religions are about control and power and always have been, whether it's from the local witchdoctor or the pope, the concept has always been to keep the masses in their place.

Education and the ability to reason and think for ourselves is the enemy of religion, sadly there are still too many who have the naive belief that their way and their way alone, is the only way and are prepared to murder in support of their belief.

I couldn't agree more.

[Hamble]

Some religions are so primitive the good bits are lost.

At the opposite end religion runs a country by absolute theocratic elective monarchy.

[said]

Not at all if any religion preaches that all other religions are inferior and everyone must comply with "our" way or die, that's still a religion, frankly through history that has been the way even between factions of what are ostensibly the same religion.

Sure there have also been the evangelical preachers who have managed to con enough people into throwing money at them, turning a religious "crusade" into a very lucrative business.

I am not talking about the Evangelists - There are several local people who belong to such a concern, yet have no knowledge of its real application. I questioned two of their members as to who was their church leader. They were very evasive and would not tell me - unlike most of the Christian churches where the reverend's name is published for all to see.