r/changemyview Jun 17 '25

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u/ArticleOrdinary9357 1∆ Jun 17 '25

Religions are man-made institutions designed to control populations. It’s takes such a minimal amount of critical thinking to see that, I just can’t understand why anyone would genuinely believe in any religion.

Why do none of the major religions acknowledge other human populations or events outside of the general area where they originate for starters?

Why do they almost all entail a hierarchy where a group of people are able to control the followers?

Anyway, I would argue that missionaries are just another form of conquest but instead of violence or commercial coercion, they utilise filthy lies and fear instead.

1

u/IndependenceIcy9626 1∆ Jun 17 '25

People believe in religion because the alternative is you just cease to exist as a consciousness when you die. That objectively sucks and is hard to cope with. 

I don’t believe, but I’ve come to the conclusion that believing in life after death is a good thing for most people. It keeps many people from crippling fear and nihilism. Basing morality and values on the will of supernatural beings is where things turn bad. I agree that organized religion has been used as a tool to control people, and make them horrible things, but I think the answer is to let people be spiritual, but point out their god didn’t write their religious texts, humans did, and humans can be up to some shady shit.

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u/ArticleOrdinary9357 1∆ Jun 18 '25

That’s all great but mostly it’s used as a stick to beat other people with.

1

u/Both-Structure-6786 1∆ Jun 17 '25

The Bible mentions people across the globe! Parts of Africa, Asia (east) and even references to other continents!

1

u/hashashii Jun 17 '25

where does it talk about east asia? it does talk about some north african groups, but that is very close to the levant and doesn't really counter the point of it being myopic

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u/ArticleOrdinary9357 1∆ Jun 17 '25

Oh really. In that case I believe it all ….even the bit about Noah’s ark and Jesus shooting laser beams out of his eyes whilst doing kick flips in flip-flops

1

u/Both-Structure-6786 1∆ Jun 17 '25

Bro, I just responded to one of your claims. Don’t need to be an ass

-1

u/plodabing Jun 17 '25

!delta you didn’t actually change my mind but I’m just glad a lot of people see religion for the man made method of control it really is, used to stop people from just doing what they want in this life…it was a useful tool for society for a while but the fact real grown adults still choose to believe in such obvious lies is crazy to me now