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Organized religion=government

BentWingedAngel

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Do you believe organized religion is just the oldest form of totalitarian and authoritarian government there is?
 
Yup, pretty much. Religion took the role of politician, scientist, philosopher, jury, and judge, back before we had any rational way of dealing with those things, and it does all of them extremely well, in the sense of getting others to accept its totalitarian authority. Unfortunately it does them all wrong and at the expense of its own adherents.
 
No. Religion is much more than "just" a form of government.

I do believe that the support of totalitarian and authoritarian governments is a form of religion, however.
 
Wouldn't say oldest. Many civilizations known for authoritative rule existed separately from religion and prior to religious influence.
 
If we're going to be loose enough with the definitions to count religion as govt, then the answer is most likely, "no."

There were other examples of individuals acting together to enforce their will on others before religion I bet. Most primates have some sort of a pecking order for the group.
 
Both Government and Religion are just subsets of "Politics".
It is said that the best way to truly understand politics is to be "on all four legs".

I believe that government is the oldest con game in history,and religion the second oldest.

Government was originally a way for the alphas to gain and keep control of the human "herd",get the most food,and get the best females.
Religions was a way for the betas to get in on some of that action the alphas were enjoying.
 
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BentWingedAngel said:
Do you believe organized religion is just the oldest form of totalitarian and authoritarian government there is?
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In brief, no.

Religion and government have not been one and the same in most societies in history. In many cases they may have "walked side by side" but they were usually not the same institution.
 
No, because it's optional to take part in. You don't have to pay taxes to the church and follow its rules just because you live within a certain set of borders.
 
CarlF said:
No, because it's optional to take part in. You don't have to pay taxes to the church and follow its rules just because you live within a certain set of borders.
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I agree about today .. but what about Meyan & Aztec cultures?
 
BentWingedAngel said:
I agree about today .. but what about Meyan & Aztec cultures?
Click to expand...
Well then obviously it would be in their case. I don't really know anything about the Meyans or Aztecs though.
 
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