Religion and Society

I was baptized and brought up going to church as a young child with my grandma. But as I got older, I didn't have to go anymore, my mom was dead and my dad not really into it. I came to believe in organized religion as a way to influence and control the masses of idiots in the world. If I want to talk with god, why the fuck do I need the church to do so? If he/she/it is omnificent, why can't can't god just hear my thoughts? Most of what's in the bible, koran, etc is just man's interpretation/imagination of history, twisted to each reteller's purpose. To hell with that, quite literally. Well, if you believe in hell....

But the church does give some people a place to donate their money and time, and it can be argued that it has helped to keep society out of complete anarchy over the centuries. As civilization grew, there needed to be a way to keep people in line -- for the greater good of course. What's best for me is to take what I can get away with, etc, etc. The rule of law and government is only so much of a deterent and can't be everywhere all of the time. But if everyone held the belief that they would be held accountable at the end of their mortal life for all of their sins, even ones no one knew about? That might help fill in some the gaps and keep people "moral", which of course is what is best for society and the people at the top.

What about the people at the top? Well, the truly devote and deluded rarely made it to the top. They were eaten along the way, just think of the Darwin sticker eating the little Jesus fish. The religious figureheads throughout history and even today are often found mired in scandal. The rest most likely were smart enough to hide it better. They were/are at the top of the pyramid. Everyone looked up to them, and the money and power was theirs to control. All they had to do was keep the illusion alive. Threaten people with their salvation in the afterlife. Hanging eternal damnation over someone's head? If they believe you, that's power....

And then there are the natural human instincts. The biggest in my opinion is survival. And what says survival more than security and familiarity? For the most part we don't like change. We don't like things (including people, religions, etc) that are different. We are secure and comfortable when we are surrounded by people like ourselves. Religion becomes a tool and a weapon to help ensure this, especially looking back through history. (Although you can still see it, just look at the news stories coming from tribal Pakistan.) You don't follow the religion, you're punished by your peers. It keeps the herd of sheep together, which is what the majority is most comfortable with. Talk about your perfect situation to generate an autocracy. Get to the top, make new rules, and those below you will punish any of their fellows who stand against you. This is why religions last longer than governments. Combine that with our desire for easy answers to the unexplainable, and it is no wonder every civilization has some sort of religion behind it. Historically, the bigger the civilization, the bigger the religion.

But what about Western culture here the 21st century? We've gotten a bit nonsecular, haven't we? Science has helped to explain the previously unexplainable. It's shown some deficiencies in the religious explantions and accounts? Those who still "cling" to their religion lament about the decline of it. (BTW, best line Obama ever uttered in my mind.) Eastern culture sees what's happening and tries harder to hold on to their own power, but it seems to be disintegrating. But without religion, what basis does the average person have for morality? Suddenly people are less concerned about the afterlife. The church loses power. Governments fundamentally shift. I'm concerned with what's best for me. Stuff I want or think I deserve but haven't earned? No problem, if I can find a way to get it without being caught it's mine. The strong and savy start to prey on the weak, dumb, and innocent.

That's what we're approaching as I type. Chaos. Anarchy. So what happens next? Here is my prediction: Modern civilization implodes. Just like the Roman empire, kaboom. Disintegrates might be a better description since it will take time. Then what happens? People start looking for security again. Religion is again found. Maybe a new one? Maybe an existing one becomes more powerful? It's a cycle. How far back will the cycle reach? Depends I guess. Throw in a nuclear holocaust, and it could go back a long, long way. Scientists are likely to again be hunted as witches and executed. Religion will once again be used as a weapon to eliminate competition and hold onto power.