Does Religion Have Purpose?

Okay, before you go off on this topic and tell me YES IT HAS A PURPOSE, READ EZEKIAL or whatever you want to refer me to, just read the whole thing. If you don’t agree with it, leave a comment so I can make fun of you. If you do agree with it, leave a comment so I can make fun of you. This is opinion and I am the Opinionator. That means I write it, you read it.

What is religion? Is it a belief in God? Not necessarily, because you don’t have to believe in God to be religious. What about that cult that thought the comet was going to take them to a new planet? How does this work? Wikipedia (we know they are the ultimate arbiter of all areas of knowledge) defines religion as:

“A religion is a set of beliefs and practices, often centered upon specific supernatural and moral claims about reality, the cosmos, and human nature, and often codified as prayer, ritual, and religious law. Religion also encompasses ancestral or cultural traditions, writings, history, and mythology, as well as personal faith and mystic experience. The term “religion” refers to both the personal practices related to communal faith and to group rituals and communication stemming from shared conviction.”

Come again? Let’s just make it simple. Religion is any group that has a common Dogma. That means an opinion, belief, or common tenet. That’s all religion is. That is why Hindus, that don’t believe in the God of Abraham are a religion, Wicca and Paganism are religions with or without a God, and I would argue that even Agnosticism and Atheism are religions because they have a common belief, opinion, or tenet. I bet religious nutcases are liking me now. They will dismiss this last sentence because the true nutcases don’t believe they are nutcases so you can’t offend them.

Try this. Go down to the Farmer’s Market in SLO and walk up to the Atheist booth when they actually have it set up again. Tell them they are a religion and watch them squirm. I argued this with them until they were red in the face, and one had to walk away before he blew up. The truth is, they have a common belief, common dogma, and unite to become a religion. Now to offend the Christians.

You may not have realized what I just said. I said that these people that want you out of the schools and government are a religion just like your church with a Pastor. Yep, you are brothers. That is good fuel for you to have in your next argument with them, though. Oh, Christians arguing with non-believers? That is my next point, control

Religions for years have been used to control people. If you can lead the people to believe you are their one path and savior, you can get them to do anything, including have sex with you. Ummmhmmmm Billy Graham? Yes, there are some stains on Christianity, including a few battles back in the olde days when people would not conform, including the Pagan Incas and Mayans that were decimated by diseases. Oh, and what about the integrity of religious holidays?

Christmas? Pagan Yule. Easter? Pagan Mardi Gras. Halloween? Just plain fun. Why this connection between Christians and Pagans? Because when the prophets set out to convert the world to follow Jesus, they had to entice them. You don’t come into someplace and fight them and tell them they are now going to follow your beliefs. Oh wait, the Crusades did that. But the Prophets did not have an army. They had to be sneaky. They had to trick the people into thinking it was just the same thing they were doing already, so they would follow them. That is like going to a playground and saying, “You can all be nurses. All you have to do is play on the swings and put bandages on people.” Hey, all the kids in the playground will want to be nurses now, and you can brag that you have a well tended health care system. Oh, that’s another topic we will deal with.

Do you follow the logic? Preach to these people, tell them it is what they already have but better because Jesus will save them and God will forgive them, and they will go to heaven instead of hell. They will follow you with no problem. Oh, but what about our holidays? Well, let’s just include those too. We will just change the name so everyone else will think we are original and didn’t just steal you that easily. Then we can say you were converted to Christianity. Okay.

Here are the two things I want to say about religion.

First, it has been used through the centuries to control people. Set up Stonehenge and Machu Picchu to predict when we should plant things and when there will be an eclipse. Say that you were told this by a deity, and people will believe you have the power and will follow you. It’s an age old smoke and mirrors trick to get people to follow you. That is the main thing you need to understand about religion. It makes people conform and follow so you have ultimate power.

Second, Christians, Hindus, Jews, Pagans, and Muslims are all the same. For God’s sake, look at it. What do you see? Do good. Don’t kill. Be kind. Respect. Live right. Treat yourself right. Don’t get out of hand. Come on, does each religion really think they have the exclusive right on these virtues? It is ALL THE SAME. If people are doing good, then they are religious. If they are respectful, they are religious. Not just one religion, ALL religions. Think about it. Give, help, do, be good, respect, what is all of that? It is just a prescription to get along in society. Hey, I guess that means that society uses religion as much as religion uses society.

Religion has a purpose. It keeps people busy, and controls them. Bada bing.

What about religion on the Central Coast? HAH! That will be a multi part section when I can get to it. I have a lot more to do now.

The Opinionator