opiates of the mind ... or ... why we all need drugs ... or ... how much can we pretend to be enligh

religion
was developed
by man

[regardless of]
[its origin]
[religion modified]
[and developed]
[by men]

with the primary
purpose of
controlling other
men

now
in most cases although
there are several notable
exceptions

people i.e.
clergy attempted
to execute this control
in order to provide
a sense of order
and a common
foundation with which
to build a civilization

From religion
was developed

law
taxes
public sanitation
health codes
and a
variety of other
standards of civilization

over thousands of years
the leaders of the various
faiths have attempted
to steer their followers
in a righteous path and help them
deal with the myriad of changes
and inventions of the modern world.

You see effective policing
is primarily impossible
even up to the common day

the vast percentage of
crimes go unsolved

which is why
the idea of an
all seeing
all knowing god
was/is required

so even if
no-one saw you
do it
and no one could
catch you

you would still
be punished by
an almighty figure

Religion
was and to a point
still is necessary
to promote equality
in fear of prosecution

as
people can
be corrupted
[but]
[at least not]
[since the catholics]
[stopped selling]
[indulgences]
[has God been]
[on the take.]

No matter how
wealthy and powerful
you are
god will punish
you

you may escape justice
from man but not from god

this also protected the
masses from feeling utterly
disenfranchised and
from engaging in
unrest

The peasants could
simple comfort themselves
that while the were being exploited
raped, murdered and beaten
left eating cold scraps
of moldy bread in rotting
tents

those lords of the manor
who lived
high upon their backs
feasting and reveling
in drunken states of bliss
would be forever
punished in the
worst depths of hell

the concept
of eternity allows
man to justify his current suffering
as it shows him the
indefinite smallness of
his time on earth

If you are good now
and suffer in this
so very short
life
then you will be
rewarded with bliss
and joy for ever after.

You want to know my opinion
[probably not but I will tell you anyway]

The reason we are seeing a
decline in religion's sway is
not because of the speed of life
or modern tools
or
a decay of values

people have
the same values today
they have always had

People do
what seems most
immediate to them
at the particular moment
always have
always will.

Advertising and Marketing
is responsible for the
downfall of religion

not however
because of sexy ads
with girls in bikinis
convincing you that
if you drink X beer
that other girls
in bikinis will want to
fuck you.

Instead it is a
question of manpower.

Fewer and fewer
people enter the clergy
than in the past
and
more often than not
people who would have
be relegated to
the role of sequestered monks
are now in front of congregations.

You see
the clergy have
been the snake-oil salesmen
of history.

In the past
those with the gift
became priests

selling the people
their snake oil

but being a priest
has one major drawback
you have
to at least appear
to be following your
own commandments

where as
Salesmen
can lie through their
teeth
smile and admit it
and we still just accept it

We don't care if the
guy selling us our car
gratifies himself on
a camel in the backroom
as long as we get a good deal

basically
religion is being
strangled by
a shortage of quality
people

all those who
are truly capable of
selling ice to Eskimos
are off doing that
and making their millions

and that
charisma charm
and weasel logic
is what is required
to keep religion in
peoples minds
and fear in their
hearts...

or not


you decide.