Is religion simply more about control than a god?

[WinterHold]

No it's not; Buddhist monks are an example.
But those who seek power and at the same time have no morals would use anything to make them stronger, religion, sex, force, science...etc.

In the race of power though; religion is a loser. Religious institutions are always invaded and controlled by the government or the royalty. There are other stronger means of rising to power.

Don't think of God as a human. God is more absolute, he is not a creature. It's not that "he cares about what you eat", but more like "he putted laws to govern his created universe". So if you break the law; you meet a certain fate. If you translated it to "other words"; it would be "He ordered you and if you disobey he punishes you".

[Shell B]

More about, not all about.

[Angrboda]

I'm peripherally familiar with the theory that religion formed as a means to control people. Whether that means that it was intentionally created for the purpose of control may vary from one advocate to another. I'm highly skeptical of the notion that religion arose as an intentional means of controlling people. A more organic explanation is more likely, though I'm still not convinced. My understanding is that the nature of the human mind and our nature as a social animal predispose us to both spiritual experiences and ideas, as well as to ritual behaviors. Even if there were no religion, we would still engage in rituals, sing songs, and dance. I think the more plausible account is that our nature as human beings predisposed us to forming religions and spiritual practices, and those behaviors have been exploited by and through social mechanisms, such as behavioral control through coercion and peer conformity, as well as other social functions, such as group cohesion and enabling of advanced social behaviors. So, in my view, religion didn't form for the purpose of controlling people, but like any other aspect of human nature, it has become organically employed toward that end.

And in hindsight, I realize I didn't bother to fully read the question. No, I don't think religion is in any sense more about control than about God, likely because of my understanding of its origin and general functions originally. I have no idea what metric one would use to answer that question. How do you measure how much something is "about God?" I'm not altogether sure I even can attach meaningful sense to the question.

Side question: Would it be an important understanding if we could demonstrate that the purpose and origin of religion was control?

[The Grand Nudger]

In the race of power though; religion is a loser. Religious institutions are always invaded and controlled by the government or the royalty. There are other stronger means of rising to power.

Religious institutions court and purchase government in their competitive bid against each other.  The religious, themselves..incapable of attributing the fallout to their religion, imagine that the government -did- whatever it was to their religion when the opposite was the case.

[Sarakan]

Religion ? What is it ? A belief in a God and follow his rules ? Is it really freedom ? There are some good rules, I'll admit. But in today's society, many are rejected of course.
Some people are happy to believe and obey, are they really happy ? If not, they should reject the control and find something that puts a smile on their face every day.

[Fake Messiah]

No it's not; Buddhist monks are an example.

So Buddhist monks are an example of pure religion. Oh well I guess they keep those hundreds of thousands of Muslims in concentration camps as part of their religion.

[ignoramus]

"he putted laws to govern his created universe"

Atlas? What does this mean?

Do you mean universal physics laws? Like, if you created warp drive and broke the speed of light speed limit you go to hell?
Or are we back to morality stuff for us primates?
As we know, we primates are the centre of God's attention. In fact he created an infinite universe that we can never discover because we can't get off this rock.
But he knew that anyway, right?

please explain.

[The Grand Nudger]

As one of my favorite posters once noted...it was more important for god to prevent us from jumping to the moon..with his laws, than from skullfucking our neighbors with the same.

[Maketakunai]

All groups are formed from a need for control by people willing to control them. Something you will never see is even a pair of people who are equals in every way. As groups get larger, that inequality grows exponentially with those willing to lead doing so and those being led ceding ever more of their decisions to those in command.

In the Catholic Church authority flows down from the Pope's imaginary friend down through bishops to the parish priests who exercise that authority over the congregation.

In the military you have a nation's leader who tells the generals what to do, who in turn tells lower ranking officers to have the NCOs exercise the leaders authority over the common soldiers.

A sports team has an owner who sets goals for his coaches who in turn instruct the team.

Etc.

[Drich]

Why is there religion in the first place? Aren't we all the same? Can't we all speak to God? I mean that is what the bible says. Why is it someone has to be an "authority" when it comes to religion? Why do they need followers? Why do they need money? Isn't the relationship with god between God and yourself? i.e. 1 on 1? It also seems there A LOT of rules when it comes to religion. I grew up in the Mormon faith, and I can tell you there were sooo many rules. Like does God honestly care with what you put in your body?

Sorry about the mormon thing..

Religion is a tool. A tool that does two things quickly, but if not used properly it is a tool that can also be used to destroy one's faith as well.

The first thing we us religion or the church for as a place where the weak or the young in the faith can find what they need to grow strong. And yes after acts 2:38 We have been given the option to speak to God directly. The second the church is used as a store house to reach out and help those who are in need. which should answer why it needs your money. 

I go to a church where on the back page of the sunday worship pamphlet every dollar is counted from the week before and it shows where every dollar goes. then I know of churches where they claim poverty even if their cup over flows..

Stuff like that/corruption or the sin of man disillusions people which is how this wonderful tool will destroy everything it has built.. but here's the thing. the church is not God it is not perfect it is a simple structure where sinful man come together to give and offer support till God returns.

Religion's primary Goal SHOULD be to put you in contact with the holy Spirit. However most religions don't or have forgotten how. which is why the church is in decline. However anyone asking for the Holy Spirit and seeking for it no matter where the truth takes them and are determined to find him no matter how long it will takes Find the Holy Spirit in fairly short order. 

A relationship with the holy Spirit in not for the faint of heart. there is a cost, but there is greater reward. Rewards come in the way of spiritual fruit at first which grow into Spiritual gifts, and greater gifts as you mature. But know the cost is for the one who knows the Spirit must also share the Spirit which is at best an impossible mission, as none believers "have tried and failed" thus assume there is no God rather than they were so far off God could not help them. Like wise with modern religious types most are taught the holy Spirit is a thing of the past or an invisible friend and if you come in speaking of your interactions they too want nothing to do for you. 

So if you ultimately follow the Spirit where ever He may take you and you will be rewarded for your service and over time these rewards and your gifts become so great so apparent God had done in you things you could never have done for yourself it will be hard for an honest heart to deny God is not fulling your life.