Religions' two purposes throughout the course of time...

This is not about your personal belief system.

Throughout history, even the polytheistic religions, have worked to control a society; to maintain it's social structure. A prime example would be..

In India, the caste system being enforced by Hinduism. When the Aryans can in they reinstated the caste system and Hinduism, they put themselves at the top, as Brahmins, and reigned.


Even in today's world. Did you know as a Christian you're supposed to pay a 10% tax on all earnings to the church, so that they church can educate others (so that they pay too)? In many religions you are prompted to take a pilgrimage (for example Buddhists going to the Fig Tree). Perhaps if you resided near India it wouldn't be a problem, but what about a whole different continent? How much would that cost you?

All religions relate back to economics or keeping one person in power over the other. Every single religion in existence that has ever existed has provoked some sort of violence for one reason or another. (Do I even need to provide examples of this?)

• When the Prophet Muhammad led his Islam followers on a 'defensive' battle and retook the city of Mecca.
  
• The Christian Church during the Crusades.

Does anyone disagree/agree with me? This isn't a "do we need religion" thread; but do you get what i'm saying? It seems to always come down to two purposes, economics & societal control.

I understand people need something to believe in, that it's comforting to know someone is listening but..at what cost?

 

Christians aren't enforcing any sort of payment, though. If if any church does, then they've got it all wrong.

 

It seems like you're just stating stuff, but not asking anything or really presenting the issue. Explain it better please.

 

Scientology is a religion, what violence have they provoked?

 

Most Christians tend to say "I want to be a good Christian", correct? (If you're going to be something why not be good at it anyways...)

Anyway, I was at a youth group for 21 and unders, and not a single person (devout Christians since circumcision, besides myself since I was only a friend of someone) knew a thing about Tithing.

However, it isn't a requirement/isn't enforced, you're correct: http://www.differentspirit.org/opinion/tithing.php

But to follow the Holy Book word for word, to be a devout you must do so.

I stated religion attempts to accomplish to things, i'm asking if you agree with me. I provided evidence of each claim, there's nothing more to explain.

You could have looked at Youtube's front page, google, etc. Scientology has had some pretty amazing coverups, but you'd be surprised. Some range from embezzlement all the way to shooting pregnant women.

http://www.religionnewsblog.com/24205/scientology-a-history-of-violence

http://www.raids.org/moxlie2.htm : What have they caused? : "that human rights activists and free speech activists which protest against Scientology's crimes and abuses are some how responsible for violence against Scientologists. What the criminal enterprise "forgets" to mention is the fact that all acts of violence against Scientologists reported so far have been at the hands of fellow Scientologists -- without exception. "

http://bernie.cncfamily.com/sc/violence.htm : "This, however, is to forget that anticultists did engage in violent kidnapping before the court put an halt to their practices."

http://technorati.com/entertainment/article/has-scientology-leader-david-miscavige-been1/ : Coverups?

 

We would still have an ethnical system w/o religion. (I.E Confucianism)

And your topic is rather subjective to your own thinking....

 

Your local church and full-time ministers may need your financial support.
Christians are encouraged to be generous.

See, we're encouraged to give. We're not forced to. It has no effect of whether you get into heaven or not.

 

I don't believe that these are the sole purposes of religion, but I do definitely believe that people have twisted the words of religions for personal gain or to benefit their nation.

 

Ok so its a bad thing people add money to the economy? Also even in none religious society's there is some type of caste system if you like it or not. Also the 10% to the church is not for spreading religion it is to keep the church going its hell expensive to run a church when you look at all the stuff they have to buy, lastly its not a requirement to be a Christian.

 

No..but religion more or less steals people's money.

Upper class ,middle class, lower class hardly constitutes as a caste system.

True..but what is a church's purpose? To spread religion.

 

Good point. If only religion was as true as it was when it started.

 

That is false. They also give money to charity.

 

Hey, can you please tell me which religion is attacking/provoking the muslim/poorer countries for the sake of "economics & societal control" & at what cost....

Pilgrimage
I do not believe any "religious scriptures" demand a person to be financially supporting it. Such as "must" give charity or commit to something that costs them their money/wealth.
Islam says you must carry out pilgrimage, only if you can afford it, in your lifetime.

Charity
What am confused about is, whats wrong with giving charity and spending your wealth for the sake of religion(God)?

Also ain't every religion suppose to teach us the way to live our lives. Islam covers many aspects of life and has opened many doors in today's better societies of this world.
(refer to islamic economics, governance etc, - google it)

 

Christianity is far too impractical in contemporary society, meaning it can be practised to the fullest extent by few if they want to lead a life that is considered to be "normal"

// thread

Also

Care to define a few of the "doors" it has opened in the "better societies of this world"?

 

Look at Saudi Arabia crime rate please. Its because of the rules found in the "Quran" that has kept many of the crimes that are found to be high in non-islamic societies, low in saudi or most muslim countries.

If you are a thief in the United Kingdom, say you got convicted and jailed, when you come out, what stops you doing that act again? it has been proven many offenders are repeating offenders.
Islam makes you think twice before you commit a crime or commit a crime again.

"It is Islam that has taught human beings that they are all brothers and sisters created from a single pair of a male and a female. Therefore, Islam, unlike Hinduism, neither recognizes nor condones the idea of a caste system. Islam is a war on caste systems, on aristocracies, and hereditary social groups of all kinds. "

Found at: http://www.themodernreligion.com/basic/islam-offer.html

do some reading on that and you will find some more stuff.

 

The church needs funds for various things.

• Funding missionaries to help natural disasters in 3rd world countries
• buying equipment needed in the church
• funding activities in the community
• charity

It is the choice of the congregation of the church if they wish to donate money or not; the church does not force it upon them. Indeed many christians think it as a duty to pay into the fundings just as they may think to fund a charity.

 

But a small amount compared to the large donations they receive.

 

They have to spread these donations across a wide variety of church activities too

 

What are the purpose of these church activities?

-Spreading religion (for the purpose of just having something to believe in and try to verify yourself.)
- Take money out of your pocket for "fun and games" that could be conducted completely without the involvement of the church

And there's been plenty of churches found to have peculated money from donations. It's all about corruption and keeping you blind.

 

Yes, and the point here is it's your money, and i've yet to see a church that gives a breakdown of what % of it's funds it receives from where, and what % of those funds go to where. (That are actually accurate; not taking into account peculation)

Yes..but why is Christianity necessary?
and as I said, it's money out of your pocket. The only point I agree with, from a humanitarian sense would be "Funding missionaries to help natural disasters" you added "in 3rd word countries" but I believe everyone deserves that help.