Are religions just another form of mass control thats gotten out of hand?

It has always been out of hand. A few days ago I was watching the History channel I believe, about the ingenious ways churches even thousands of years ago, had of creating phony ';miracles'; in order to get people to contribute and toe the line. I know several centuries ago, the Catholic church took credit for causing solar eclipses through prayer. The list is endless.Are religions just another form of mass control thats gotten out of hand?
Not particularly. Christianity is founded upon a close relationship with Jesus. While pastors and such may provide wisdom and teachings, they are not dictating how I should or do live my life. The only ONE dictating my life is God.





Church is (or should be) God's house, where all his people can come together (since humans are by design, gregarious) and worship. We don't come together and listen to our pastor tell us how and when to mow our lawns and such %26lt;laugh out loud%26gt;.





Also... so long as I'm not sinning, pretty much everything I do, from playing video games to taking a dump on the can is worship! (1 Corinthians 10:31 states, ';So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.';)Are religions just another form of mass control thats gotten out of hand?
No, they aren't. Can you give an example of how we religious are controlled? By who? God's 10 commandments? I love those commandments.
Yes - religion is primarily after control and manipulation of the public, and it's believers.


They take away the power of the individual, by having them believe in myths that are not real - can never be real. And religion gains their power - of course. It is all a scam. Religious insitutions act as the intermediary between God (who does not exist, who does not make an appearance) and mankind. Of course ordinary people do not know what God wants - the priests are needed (of course)...





It is plainly obvious this is happening --- and all claims about the afterlife, etc are false - and can never be proved.
Maybe, but what's so wrong with the Ten Commandments? Don't steal, don't lie, don't kill... people who disagree with these commandments are exactly the kind of people that need to be controlled.
No, religion meets needs in peole's lives. People naturally feel that there is something greater then themselves and have a need to relate to that ';being';. Religion reaches out to greater ones and gives security. Much religion is misplaced because of ignorance and hope falls on non reliable things. In Christianity hope is placed in Jesus Christ and it gives a hope of eternal life in heaven which is a strong motivation to ';hang in there'; and to live a good and righteous life. The reason it appears out of control is not becausze of religion but because of human nature trying to use religion for selfish ambitions and greed.
NO, that would be welfare and social security
Yes exactly. Somewhere they lost the reason for the season.


Christ is the answer not Christianity.
Yes.
You might be right.
pretty much
Yes
religion is for the weak,real men face their fears and embrace them,cowards kneel and pray