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Religion: a tool for the ruling class to keep the population under control?

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Religion: a tool for the ruling class to keep the population under control?
Veritas_Vincit Offline
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#1
Religion: a tool for the ruling class to keep the population under control?
June 17, 2016 at 10:16 am
To what extent do you see organised religion as an institution to give the ruling classes power over the general population?
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The Grand Nudger Offline
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#2
RE: Religion: a tool for the ruling class to keep the population under control?
June 17, 2016 at 10:22 am (This post was last modified: June 17, 2016 at 10:23 am by The Grand Nudger.)
It's hard to see how that could be avoided...so, I'd say to the fullest extent. It's certainly something that has been done consciously and intentionally, but just as often it's incidental and unnoticed.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
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Chad32 Offline
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#3
RE: Religion: a tool for the ruling class to keep the population under control?
June 17, 2016 at 10:44 am
Yes, I've said before that religion is a tool that can be used for good or evil. Used to control the masses, to bring individual comfort, and to explain things that haven't yet been explained through natural means.
Poe's Law: "Without a winking smiley or other blatant display of humor, it is impossible to create a parody of Fundamentalism that SOMEONE won't mistake for the real thing."

10 Christ-like figures that predate Jesus. Link shortened to Chris ate Jesus for some reason...
http://listverse.com/2009/04/13/10-chris...ate-jesus/

Good video to watch, if you want to know how common the Jesus story really is.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88GTUXvp-50

A list of biblical contradictions from the infallible word of Yahweh.
http://infidels.org/library/modern/jim_m...tions.html

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account_inactive Away
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#4
RE: Religion: a tool for the ruling class to keep the population under control?
June 17, 2016 at 10:45 am
Yes, it's a tool to control the masses.
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The Grand Nudger Offline
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#5
RE: Religion: a tool for the ruling class to keep the population under control?
June 17, 2016 at 10:58 am (This post was last modified: June 17, 2016 at 10:58 am by The Grand Nudger.)
Is the formal organization of religious thought and belief anything -other- than the consolidation of perceived authority?
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
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vorlon13 Offline
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#6
RE: Religion: a tool for the ruling class to keep the population under control?
June 17, 2016 at 11:00 am
(June 17, 2016 at 10:16 am)Veritas_Vincit Wrote: To what extent do you see organised religion as an institution to give the ruling classes power over the general population?

What do you think about this topic ??

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LadyForCamus Offline
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#7
Religion: a tool for the ruling class to keep the population under control?
June 17, 2016 at 11:31 am
(June 17, 2016 at 11:00 am)vorlon13 Wrote:
(June 17, 2016 at 10:16 am)Veritas_Vincit Wrote: To what extent do you see organised religion as an institution to give the ruling classes power over the general population?

What do you think about this topic ??

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Hubba, hubba!
Nay_Sayer: “Nothing is impossible if you dream big enough, or in this case, nothing is impossible if you use a barrel of KY Jelly and a miniature horse.”

Wiser words were never spoken. 
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Minimalist Offline Donators
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#8
RE: Religion: a tool for the ruling class to keep the population under control?
June 17, 2016 at 11:36 am
Quote:“Men will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest.”

― Denis Diderot
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Veritas_Vincit Offline
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#9
RE: Religion: a tool for the ruling class to keep the population under control?
June 17, 2016 at 12:13 pm
Whenever I debate religion or hear it debated, it is always at the back of my mind the the person arguing in favour of religion is actually defending the very system that is controlling their mind in favour of the ruling class.

Religion is a huge issue, and not just because it is false, or because it causes so much harm. It is a problem also because of how much attention it uses up, how much time and energy and money it usurps - and this is why the ruling class love it - because it distracts us from the real issues. It's a tool to divide and conquer. It keeps people from uniting and working together for a better society. It keeps them from questioning who is really calling the shots, who really has the power, and where decisions that affect their lives are really being made.
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Angrboda Offline
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#10
RE: Religion: a tool for the ruling class to keep the population under control?
June 17, 2016 at 12:31 pm
Organized activities will consolidate power within a few regardless of the nature of the activity. That power will be used for good or ill. I think what you are trying to suggest is that religion is only organized for the purpose of consolidating power so that it may be wielded over others. That I think is false. I think the religious impulse comes first, and the drive to organize it comes second.
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Atheist Forums › Community › Religion v
Religion: a tool for the ruling class to keep the population under control?

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