Yes this is going to be long so you better have some spare time on your hands
Before I divulge into anything, I'd like to first say that I won't be retorting to anyones points oppressively. Religion is a touchy subject, as we all know. However I believe that the basis of religion is.. beliefs! We all have our beliefs and in order to find your true beliefs, ethics, and values, you must hear others opinions and arguments. This is how we learn, grow, live!
With that said, I can imagine a copasetic thread. A while back a typed this up, but I still abide by it. Thankfully, I didn't try to use countless polysylvalic terms, I actually went over it and dimmed down a few words to try and simplify so anyone could understand; for that is the point of literature, isn't it? To communicate? Not to just sound smart.. anyways.. here goes:
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First of all, I see Religions as an excuse to not fear death. This, however, is quite alright as many of us need some form of hope and something to hang onto when we have nothing left for us. Those who are poor, having problems at home, a relative is dying, etc. They may rely on God to be someone who will offer support and try to help them. It is, essentially (and in my opinion) a imaginary source of hope and source for support for people. It helps to ease the mind knowing that, no matter what, there is still an all mighty God up there who will look after you, although, it is simply that; an imaginary being. There is nothing that proves the existance of God, nothing; it is an ideal and philosophy that many people have created in order to create a form of hope. It let's people not fear death because, as long as they do certain things, they will go to heaven, otherwise, they go to hell. This seems logical to most humans; if you abide by these rules, you'll be rewarded with a good afterlife, otherwise, you have a bad afterlife. It seems very rationale and logical to many humans, especially since it is a basis of logic within our lives and society; do things right, and good things come to. But this does not mean your entire life must abide by rules. Why would God restrict you to do certain things whereas he gives you the option to choose "evil"? Freedom of choice is what a God should truly want to give his minions and creations, to choose what they become. I'd go in further, but I will cover this in the "Life" section.
God is a good reason to not fear death, for the basis of a rewarded afterlife seems very logical to us humans. Sometimes, though, sacrifices are required, and thus wars erupt. This is where God is abused. In order to get into heaven, you must fight for it, even though your enemy is doing the samething... How can two people fighting both hope to get into heaven by fighting for it? Is it the winner that goes to heaven because they proved themself stronger? Or is it the one who died for their beliefs and sacrificed themself? Religion is an excuse for war on our primal instincts of bloodlust. Just like all animals, we need violence and bloodshed, and religion gives us that excuse to do such. Thus, Churches and religions turn into recruit offices where they preach that "Jesus died for your sins! Come and worship him!" then, when you'rein, they ask for your money and to abide by their rules and ethics laid out in a book written by people who have seen things that only potheads have equal stories to.
Religions each consist of basis and rules for a proper afterlife in their culture. There are over hundreds of different mass religions and groups that each offer there own afterlife and ways to achieve it; some with great sacrifices, some with none. Thus, each religion is trying to get more members of their religion. This reminds me of clans in online games; they offer reason why you should join then, how they are better than others, etc. but essentially, you still do the samething in every one of them, with the same motivation, just a different insignia on yourself (or colors..whatever). Do I see relgions and church as recruitment for war and money? Yes, but I also see it as a form of brainwashing and attempts to spread their own personal beliefs upon others, so, in a subtle manner, they have a form of control over large amounts of people that they have manipulate/influenced. Yes,I do know that you do not have to go to church, there is no admittance fee, etc. Like I said, they do it very subtly and with no oppression, but this is mostly because churches are commonly for the form of hope in which many of us humans need. In other words, the war churches and their war motivations are not necessarily at the church. The motivations for war imparted by religion are abused by politicians; especially the united states of america. What do the presidents say at the end of every one of their speaches? What do american soldiers say to dismiss their meetings and conversations? "God bless the US" This small phrase makes it seem that God is on their side and attempts to put themselves on a higher status then other cultures and religions which does give motivation to american troops and civillians alike, but also inadvertadly angers other countries accusing them of false religions and beliefs. This is how many holy wars are provoked.
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Hope I've been enlightening, and I hope to hear some other views