Your radical ideas about religion as a mechanism of social control have already occurred to others

(idea) by Deborah909 (4.7 y) (print) ? (I like it!) 1 C! Tue May 30 2000 at 16:26:48

Congratulations! You are in excellent company!

Some of the best social thinkers who ever lived have addressed themselves to the question of how religious institutions function as mechanisms of social control. You might as well get ready to blow your mind and read:

Max Weber, The Sociology of Religion, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism

Emile Durkheim, The Elementary Forms of Religious Life

Sigmund Freud, The Future of An Illusion, Group Psychology and the Analysis of the Ego, Civilization and Its Discontents

stay tuned! more to come...

(idea) by tj9582 (4.2 y) (print) ? (I like it!) 1 C! Mon Sep 18 2000 at 6:48:04

It is worth pointing out that the fact that a religion can be/is a control mechanism says absolutely nothing about the veracity of a given religion or whether it is good or bad.

Perhaps rephrasing the statement can help you see what I mean.

Instead of
Religion is a mechanism of social control.
Try
The Media is a mechanism of social control.
or
Government is a mechanism of social control.

(idea) by bmh (4.3 y) (print) ? (I like it!) 1 C! Mon Oct 29 2001 at 13:03:45

That may well be, but when you are sixteen years old, and beginning to question everything your parents and teachers have ever told you, revelations such as these are a big damn thing in your eyes. Right now you won't care if some dead philosopher has already come to these conclusions, all that matters is that you're thinking for yourself.

When you grow up a bit more, it is very likely that you'll want to (or at least attempt to) read some of the writings from these philosophers, but statements such as these are really irrelevant.

I remember the first time I met someone who was *gasp shock horror* - an Unbeliever such as myself. I know the feeling of 'wow, someone's already thought of this before', but it doesnt mean that your views or 'radical ideas' are any less valid.

Who cares if these ideas of religion as a mechanism of social control have already occured to others? At least you're thinking them.

printable version
chaos

Ten reasons to believe in God	Atheism is a crutch for weak people	I can't decide if what you're saying is too profound for me to comprehend or just insane	An atheist's defense of Christianity
Your radical ideas about society, individualism, and religion have already occurred to others	If "cult" religions are so good at mind control, why are their attrition rates so high?	Atrocities in the Bible	The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism
My Religion teacher spoke for God	The role of unbelievers is to ensure religions are benign	Group Psychology and the Analysis of the Ego	Karl Marx
Hating religion is different from hating an ethnic group	Faith is Irrefutable	Losing my religion	The Elementary Forms of Religious Life
Religious Zealots are the worst	Being a Christian is magical and foolish: Maybe we're all caught up in a collective psychosis	Quickly, intellectually bludgeon your faith	Civilization and Its Discontents
I figured out Faith	Spirituality has nothing to do with religion	Emile Durkheim	Max Weber

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