The argument here is that if people believe that some celestial law enforcer watches them always then they will behave better.
And this is indeed why the rulers of antiquity found religion useful,(as long as they had an input in the rules).
Indeed our own rulers used to claim divine appointment.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divine_right_of_kings
The problem with this sort of divine peeping tom law maker is the crazy shit people get forced to do, like not switching lights on on saturday, sacrificing bulls or not going out without a male escort (even if your a young widow with no male relatives).
And it doesnt stop there, because people will not just leave it up to the sky police they take action themselves, so you end up with 13 year girls being stoned to death for the crime of being raped.
I think that the lie of religion is always a poisonng influence especially in its extremes and the truth, there most likely is no god, is always to be preferred.
And this is indeed why the rulers of antiquity found religion useful,(as long as they had an input in the rules).
Indeed our own rulers used to claim divine appointment.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divine_right_of_kings
The problem with this sort of divine peeping tom law maker is the crazy shit people get forced to do, like not switching lights on on saturday, sacrificing bulls or not going out without a male escort (even if your a young widow with no male relatives).
And it doesnt stop there, because people will not just leave it up to the sky police they take action themselves, so you end up with 13 year girls being stoned to death for the crime of being raped.
I think that the lie of religion is always a poisonng influence especially in its extremes and the truth, there most likely is no god, is always to be preferred.
You can fix ignorance, you can't fix stupid.
Tinkety Tonk and down with the Nazis.
