Religions developed simply as a way to consolidate power of larger and larger groups of people. Starting with shamanism to animism, from animism to polytheism, from polytheism to Henotheism, and finally henotheism to monotheism.Do you agree? Thoughts?
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I don't think so. I think it started as a means to answer questions and solve mysteries. A few minutes later the notion that it could be used as a control mechanism set in.
I agree, that is probably not how it started. At least not the earliest religions. Some of the later religions however, could very well have been created with purpose.
Cyber & Pragmatic....
I too agree.....religions ,in their very earliest stages are support mechanisms for their societies (or elements within those societies).
However as they progress and develope a "trained" priest hood and a temple structure ....then they start playing power games.
Witness the various Egyptian sects manipulating the Pharaohs ....
the biblical accounts ,probably apocryphal ,of Jewish prophets exerting pressure on the Kings of Israel.
The Druids and their control over the Celtic tribes ,
Then ,of course ,the shenanigans around the conference at Nicea and Constantine's attempt at introducing a Christian religion.....
then once the Western Empire collapsed....the Bishops of Rome brought religions interference in the affairs of states to new heights.
Some might say ,raising it to an art form.
All religions can trace their roots to tribal shamanism. This stage is innocent and no thoughts of consolidating power. Shamans through dreams, visions, starvation, sleep deprivation, and psychedelics entered altered states of consciousness to contemplate reasons. Why does the earth shake, why do volcanoes erupt, where does the sun go at night, etc.. The conclusion that the tribal shamans came to almost universally is that the world is full of spirits and that these spirits control the behavior of nature and all animate and inanimate objects and can communicate through the shaman to mankind. From these reasons and visions the shamans become the leaders of their tribes or on the right hand of the leader. From the ideas of spirits you get Animism. Animism is the belief that spirits inhabit all objects animate or inanimate. There is the spirit of this stream and a spirit of that stream. The spirit of this tree and a spirit of that tree, etc. Then that form of Animism leads to a consolidated form of Animism which has the God or spirit of streams plural, trees plural etc. different tribes had different gods or spirits that represented the God of streams, the God of trees etc. When these tribes come in contact through social bonds, treaties, or war all of there different gods get consolidated into a type of polytheism where a single God represents all bodies of water or all of plants. In this way you can bring together individual tribes into a single belief system and into a cohesive society which makes it easier for those in power to control different tribes or groups.Polytheism then creates a pantheon that incorporates all the gods of individual tribes or city- states. This gives those in power to create empires. Polytheism also gave their gods abstract aspects like Zeus is the God of Thunder but also the God of order and Justice. Then groups like the early Hebrews progressed to Henotheism which is the belief in many gods but only one is the head of the council of gods and worthy of worship. This consolidates the population more around the head God but not denying the existence of other gods which would upset part of the population. Then finally those in power discard the other gods and become monotheistic and then you have a monopoly on God and total cohesion around this God. The Holy Roman Catholic Church held the reins of this monopoly in the form of Christianity from the 8th century to the 16th century.
I don't think it can be assessed any differently. People with power agendas knew what it took and they made their plays. That's was the the way of it and has been ever since. Tell a man you know the answers, tell him they are channeled through you by some fearsome deity only you can appease, and under that threat of personal harm people are at least outwardly sold on it. Make it real with some animal/man sacrifices and really get the masses quaking at the knees. Get the militia behind you reinforcing you (because they want a share of the power) and you're golden. Yea, buddy, it's all downhill and tax free from there.
People are soooooo stupid.