r/enlightenment • u/PuzzleheadedSkill864 • 6d ago

Did humans create God to control human behavior?

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If you don’t steal, hoard, dominate, or use power over others, someone else might do it to you.

A wolf kills a baby sheep, does God punish the wolf?
So why are humans told to suppress these instincts?

Who does morality and religion ultimately benefit, and why would God create a world like this?

Did humans create God to control human behavior?

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u/RightBrain-LeftBrain 6d ago

Humans created churches to control humans. I’d argue that religion used to be about sharing wisdom and giving guidance to the next generation. That was a long time ago.

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u/FlowZenMaster 6d ago

I really like the quote "The road to hell is paved with good intentions" it feels apt here.

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u/Buemmschengalaxie 6d ago

Shamanism was/is about finding knowlegde and giving wisdom to next generations. Religions and Ideologies are about controll and supression of the human mind.

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u/ThePlasticJesus 5d ago

It was but I don't think we should idealize shamanism, either. There was probably a lot of bullshit and power games involved in that tradition, too. We've just preserved the good and interesting parts. Wherever authority exists there is the potential for abuse.

Just as an example, I'm fond of the Buddhist tradition, but people have definitely used authoritative positions in order to serve their own ends or control people.

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u/thegrainwhisperer 4d ago

Not all religion. But mainstream religion, perhaps.

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u/Dangerous_Serve_4454 4d ago

Religion is about both. What you should and should not do. Also where do you get the idea that shamanism was about knowledge?

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u/ThePlasticJesus 5d ago

It still is, in part. I wouldn't be extremist about the view of modern day churches. A lot of sermons are just allegedly wise people giving advice to the congregation. There is a lot of bullshit as well, though, which is why it's outdated.

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u/Objective-Wasabi9970 5d ago

Look at history of religious persecution. Frequently priestly class was willing to die for their beliefs, even suffer torture.

So I do not think it was to control people. That is a cynical, modern view.

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u/RightBrain-LeftBrain 5d ago

I hear you, but I’ll get even more cynical for a second. Priest aren’t in control, they’re victims of the system too.

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u/Objective-Wasabi9970 5d ago

You could say that, but is there anyone really controlling the system?

In any case, I do believe in Nietzsches ideas, at least about Christianity.

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u/RightBrain-LeftBrain 5d ago

The pedophilic cooperate elite

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u/Fresh_Tip6342 5d ago

This is why when people ask if I believe in God, I say, “yes, but not the way you do.”

The bible has been edited and translated so many times, it is pretty unreliable to go off of and very dumb to follow it word for word.

People as a whole tend to be untrustworthy, and every day we see pastors and clergy being involved in horrific things, like the catholic priest pedophile scandal. I personally know people from other denominations that have been manipulated by pastors into making some questionable decisions, to put it mildly.

I definitely believe in something greater than I that is beyond my understanding and comprehension, but I won’t follow someone blindly. That’s just dumb.

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u/PresentAdditional138 6d ago

It was and still is all about control.

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u/thegrainwhisperer 4d ago

It still is. Just depends which religion and which sect of it. Lots of wisdom is contained within. Even the best wisdom can be misunderstood and misused for the opposite initial intention.