The reason religion is so powerful

[Macoleco]

It is quite common to listen people saying that political ideologies, for example, can be as dangerous as religion. Nonetheless, I disagree with this statement.

The reason religion is so powerful is because of the concept of God. God is above everything. The universe, the Earth, humanity, were created by God. Since religion exists due to God, then religion is above everything too. Above politics, countries, economy, etc.

Life after death, for example, is exclusive to religion. No political ideology promises you heaven after death. Religion tells you you will meet your parents after death, and reunite. No political ideology promises this.

This is why religion is so dangerous. Since God is above everything, so is religion, as the cause of its existence is God, and God is absolute. So your beliefs are absolute.

[no one]

People are arrogant, dumb, fragile, insecure, and most of all, dumb.

[brewer]

God then becomes the ultimate human justification/rationalization.

[Belacqua]

It is quite common to listen people saying that political ideologies, for example, can be as dangerous as religion. Nonetheless, I disagree with this statement.

I suppose to test this, we'd have to work out whether people have been more or less willing to do violence for political purposes than for religious purposes. 

Like, how many people in history have thought, "I am facing my political enemy on the battlefield to defend my homeland and my way of life, but because this war isn't based on God I guess I'll just go home."

[Abaddon_ire]

I suppose to test this, we'd have to work out whether people have been more or less willing to do violence for political purposes than for religious purposes. 

Nope. Such a test would be morally abhorrent. Yet we have seen such tests in real life. It is not some intellectual exercise, something you seem to believe everything reduces to. No, not at all. In reality, millions have died on foot of such philosophical babblings.

Your problem is that you are stuck in academic philosophy. All clean and pretty.

You really do not care about what people do with that afterwards. The practical results of your navel gazing are unimportant to you.

[brewer]

It is quite common to listen people saying that political ideologies, for example, can be as dangerous as religion. Nonetheless, I disagree with this statement.

I suppose to test this, we'd have to work out whether people have been more or less willing to do violence for political purposes than for religious purposes. 

When did political ideologies ever promise eternal life or eternal damnation?

[The Grand Nudger]

Religion is politics. The addition of a theistic god, like the addition of any earthly dictator, spells disaster. People will die for their beliefs, whatever they happen to be.

[Abaddon_ire]

Religion is politics.  The addition of a theistic god, like the addition of any earthly dictator, spells disaster.  People will die for their beliefs, whatever they happen to be.

Does it?

OK, having no dog in the fight, I propose this.

The rise of the evangelicals to power in the USA ensures that the USA will fall.

Agree? Disagree? Discuss?

[The Grand Nudger]

Unlikely, given the persistence of theocratic states in history (both de jure and de facto). Cold comfort to the people on the wrong end of their efforts, ofc.

[Neo-Scholastic]

Meh...it seems to me that religious belief just as often serves as a constraint on the corrupt ambitions of the powerful. Human dignity is a purely relgious concept. Secular governance can still retain the idea for a while but without the rligious underpinning it is just an unchallenged assumption. Cut flowers cannot hold their bloom forever.