Quote:
Originally posted by lurkette
Religion is an institution, and as such it is a method of social control. It keeps people in a community and reinforces that community's norms and mores. It serves its purpose, but other institutions can do the same thing. Some people choose to seek out those other institutions, while some are drawn to religion for whatever reason.
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Exactly what I was saying - religion from a practical standpoint is a system of government (theocracy, kekeke).
I suppose the truly faithful stay away from discussions like this, because I have yet to see a single comment that takes religion seriously. We all begin from the assumption that religion is simply a mental construct or self-delusion and work from there. To its followers, a religion is not a method, a tool, or a construct. Looking at religion from a practical standpoint is similar to looking at paintings from a practical standpoint - yes, they have their 'uses' but painters don't paint 'useful' paintings, they paint what they feel, in such a way that others might know a bit of the feeling also.
I suppose I'm being hypocritical, since I'm not a follower of any religion myself, but this all feels very one-sided and it doesn't seem like it should.