illusion/invention

[jojojojoanne]

what are your views on the ideas that both religion and non religion are or could be argued to be (as any point could: as it is merely a point/perspective) an invention for social control,social maintenance and social stability?

[WaldoMcFroog]

Non religion obviously cannot be an invention for the purposes you're talking about, since by the very nature of *not being something*, it proscribes no unified set of behaviour beyond the lack of religion. You and I could both reject religion, yet you might believe in Ayn Rand-esque superiority of the individual, whereas I might be subscribe to hardline communism - our views would therefore be in direct conflict and have radically different impacts on society, yet both of us are non-religious.

Religions (typically) impose a moral code on their followers and you get large swathes of people impelled by those beliefs to act in a particular way, therefore are more useful as a tool of social control (which is not to say they necessarily are).

[luna-tic]

Hello Many Jo's,
I don't think all religions fall into the social control ,maintenance and stability categories but I do think very young children and maybe some adults can be easily influenced into following certain groups.As rational adults we do have choices but I suppose in the long run it all depends whether those who choose belief systems feel any benefit or comfort from their practices.
Many years ago the control through fear factor was certainly an element but today people are a lot more cautious.

[Octavius]

An unscrupulous leader can use any means available to manipulate the population and thus control social aspects of life. In some states this might be religious means (Sharia etc) in others it might be oppression, fear (WMD in 45 minutes), totalitarian ideology or a good old fashioned dictatorship. Robert Mugabe is a fine example of a corrupt manipulative and evil dictator of our times.

These are not inventions or creations by the leaders, merely a tool at their disposal which they are able to interpret to justify their personal ambitions. This goes with the Crusades, as well as Communism, Stalinism and Nazism. Some had a religious milieu, others didn�t.

[Romeo]

Organised religion can be used as a means of social control, but personal belief not so, as it is an individual choice. As for non-religion, if you mean enforced atheist teaching as was practiced in Soviet schools, that too can be used as a means of social control, but again personal non-belief not so.

[Theland]

Look at communist China. Lots of social control, even their churches have to be sanctioned by the state, so that state authority is not challenged.
But, there is a growing community of unofficial Christian 'house' churches in China, that refuse to pray and worship and teach in a state sanctioned way, but simply wish to follow their Lord in the way that He sanctioned discipleship.
Consequently, these house churches are persecuted, and people there go to prison sometimes for their beliefs.