RE: Religion: a tool for the ruling class to keep the population under control?
June 30, 2016 at 12:04 pm
(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?
It creates a set of rules that the masses have to live by, but those in power can ignore if they wish.
The rules themselves can be adjusted to get a variety of results. God says give the church money, is a good one. No contraception is a nice one to grow the ranks. Heaven is awesome for getting people to give up their life since they'll think they get something in return. Villainizing others so you can mobilize the populace to go to war and increase your power/wealth.
It's definitely one way to skin the cat. Same thing goes for nationalism, 'social norms', politics, and all sorts of fun tools that are at their disposal. In the end, maybe we're just evolutionarily disposed to being duped by powerful people? Ants going to ant.
