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From: speaker@umcp-cs.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: Re: religion in general...
Message-ID: <3833@umcp-cs.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 16-Nov-83 00:47:13 EST
Article-I.D.: umcp-cs.3833
Posted: Wed Nov 16 00:47:13 1983
Date-Received: Thu, 17-Nov-83 02:12:02 EST
References: <173@hou2a.UUCP>
Organization: Univ. of Maryland, Computer Science Dept.
Lines: 46


              It appears to me that religion (in particular, the 
              organized sort) has always served those in power as
              a very reliable method of manipulating large populations
              (mainly through fear/hatred) towards largely sinister
              and destructive ends. Historical examples of this are legion.
You speak of religion as if it were some dark and sinister force
manipulating people through some unseen puppet strings.  It isn't
religion, but PEOPLE that are at the heart of all the sinister and
destructive doings.  Science has been used in exactly the same 
manipulative and destructive way.

Consider that in ancient days the only ones who could communicate
the meaning of God's word were the priests and educated class.  To
become educated you either had to be wealthy or train in an institution
protected by the powerfull.  Talk about bed-fellows.

And maybe people REALLY believed in the dogma that they (and not
God) were creating.  Consider their view of were man fit in the
universe.  In ancient days people belived that the universe had a
hierarchic structure and that it was correct for there to be kings
and priests to guide the masses, just as there was a god and his
angels to guide mankind.  You can't say, "I don't believe in God
because he killed all these people."  He didn't.

              Religion seems to offer a conceptual framework (some
              would call it a "crutch") to help the bewildered cope
              with a vast and incomprehensible universe. Many people
              apparently have a genuine need for the emotional and moral
              support of religion.

More words.  This isn't the sole or even primary purpose of the
major religions that I am familiar with although they might be used
to this end.  Not everyone that has a belief in something is totally
bewildered by the universe.  Some are just ignorent.  Turn on the
Sunday morning TV and listen to the drivel (and I don't mean "Meet
the press").

              Some of us prefer naked facts.

How noble of us.
-- 

					- Speaker-To-Stuffed-Animals
					speaker@umcp-cs
					speaker.umcp-cs@CSnet-Relay