Is religion a form of 'slavery'; a means to control, a means to keep people in 'check', with all its ideologies and so forth or does it truly 'liberate' you?
What are your thoughts...
I agree with an earlier statement. There is a difference between religion and sprituality. I tend to think that religion has evolved into traditions in today's society. Traditions as common as celebrating a birthday. Playa Pres spoke of the Arabs fight for their religion. They do it because the people before them also fought and now it's become tradition and is what they feel should be done. So yes, religion in a sense is slavery, trapping those who are confined by the traditional aspects of the religion.
Religion has always been used as a means to control and manipulate people since its introduction. It has succeeded for so long simply because it controls not the physical body, but the mind with all its ideologies that are not easily understood by the average, and even intellectual, person.
It is Psychology's best example of how the mind can be controlled!
No, I don't believe religion is a form of slavery. Not at all I think in some cases it can be classified as this. I believe through what ever religion a person has it is their choice to follow and no one can control you. That should not be confused with slavery because it is no where near that. Religion is a believe in which different groups of people come together to worship their God.
I'm not referring to the whips and chains type slavery of "You do what I say or else...", but similarly, I'm referring to the how slavemasters used these tools (whips and chains) as a means of 'keeping order' on their plantation, and would not hesitate to inflict some form of 'punishment' on the **** if they stepped out of line (tried to escape, talked out of line, etc...).
Whips and chains are no longer choice tools to enslave, but what I'm asking is, are we enslaved mentally by religions' ideologies and more importantly guilt (of not doing right and wrong and being punished), which is a very powerful controlling mechanism...
Religion is, in most cases a form of mental slavery. The principles and beliefs that we all go by, although different (depending on who you worship), gives us a sense of security(sometimes a false sense). That everything will be ok if you do this and if you don't do that. Statements like: "I haven't been to church in a while. I guess I'll go this week", are said because people believe that just by going to church or bible study that everything will go their way.
I'm not saying that when good things happen to you, it's not by the grace of God b/c it is. It's by his grace and not by how often you go to church. Thinking like that is basically a form of mental slavery (brainwashing).
I know it is deeper than that, but I'm just scratching the surface.
I dont think that religon itself is a form of slavery, but some leaders can start imposing their personal beliefs and opinions: mixing it up with the WORD, making it hard for some people to see through the BS and causes them to in fact devote themselves to a leader rather than to the LORD. My momma always told me not to listen to the preacher, but listen to the WORD. Meaning, the preacher is human. And because he is in the flesh he is not perfect. He will not always have the answer that you are looking for. But if you focus your attention on the WORD and not the Messenger, then it would be impossible to be enslaved(?). Some preachers have the ability to persuade the weak minded folks into doing or believing anything they say. But I think that it is purely based on the ministery and the congeration to whether or not he/she has effectively enslaved their sheep.
I think that religion is a form of psychological slavery. Some religions believe that discipline is a necessary part of spiritual progress while others use it to keep people 'in check'. I think that it can be a good thing and help you to understand spiritual things, but that alot of people misuse it... and the result.... is a loss of psychological freedom. Christianity seems to have lost its adherance to its core principles and instead promotes legalistic doctrines that scare people into psychological dependence and fear of what will happen after death, instead of teaching people to appreciate life. This to me is a blatant example of how psychological slavery has corrupted religious practice.
From what I have notice religion is a choice. Like some others stated earlier depends on what freedoms and experiences you've been through and your interpertations of them. That infact leaves the decision up to the person to decide whether they are a **** to religion. Personal, I don't feel religious but I do feel like I have a close relationship with God. I feel bless and before I gave my life to Christ I felt God was with me. Alot of the things God has brought my family and I from has strenghthen my beliefs that he has always been there and will always be. I can say I know others that went through alot more ill things than I ever been through but they still believe in God. They know he's there for them. I also can say I've met others who don't believe in God and they seem to not have anything to look forward to or to learn from a close relationship with God. (that's at least what and with whom I encountered). I feel when I walk around everyday and see extraordinary things like the stars, mountains, birds, lakes, oceans, trees; science can only explain but so much. I know there is an ultimate HIGHER POWER out there, and for me that's God. Slavery as refering to religion is a mind set if you think you are a limited and bound then you'll feel limited and bound. I don't and I think that's what matters, you can't make people believe what they don't want to or do what they don't want to. You can only let them know God is about God if they didn't know.
By not having a form of organized religion and having everyone just believe in a higher power (God), based upon their own feelings, could we consider that belief religion, or just various forms of spiritualism?
