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

[Anomalocaris]

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.

You can make that argument for many middle eastern states and to a lesser degree for the USA. You can't make that argument for the largest parts of Europe. We've moved beyond that point, thanks to two world wars. Religion isn't what's keeping the masses in check, as Marx used to argue - very losely paraphrased. Not anymore.

How about Poland, which lost a greater part of its population to the two world wars than perhaps any other state in Europe or elsewhere?

Also, that organized religion is a tool for control does not mean it is necessarily always successfully so employed, or that its past failures reduces its potential for being used successfully for the same purpose in the future, or that it is not being kept alive partially with an eye towards its possible future use for this purpose.

[abaris]

How about Poland, which lost a greater part of its population to the two world wars than perhaps any other state in Europe or elsewhere?

With Poland and Hungary in mind I said "for the largest part".

[Drich]

To what extent do you see organised religion as an institution to give the ruling classes power over the general population?

maybe in the 15th century dark age church, but if you look at religion as a whole and not just Christianity's past, the 'ruling class' is often times themselves being overthrown and subjugated by religion itself. Look at Islam and recent history and the failed regimes of middle eastern countries now influenced or controlled by isis. (look what happened to the lanisters in GoT by their holy roller sect/meaning even most secularists understand that the ruling class have not been given exclusive rights to the power religion has over people.)

Religion is a tool that can be used by either man or God to build up or tear down. It is all on what the mass of followers truly want from their religion that will dictate how it is used, and who has control.

[Whateverist]

Religion is now a social institution and as such ripe for use as a tool for consolidating political power. That is practically all we see nowadays. But people who think the whole thing was concocted from the get go with that purpose in mind are simply out of touch.

[abaris]

But people who think the whole thing was concocted from the get go with that purpose in mind are simply out of touch.

Depends what you call from the get go. In recorded history, priests always were powerful, regardless if we're talking about the big three or earlier religions. In Egypt they could make or break pharaos.

[henryp]

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.