The way some people picture it, a bunch of people got together who were trying to control other and said "I know. We'll come up with this idea of God, so that people will obey us." Human authorities, like Mao Tse-Tung, often don't want people to believe in God because belief in God entails that there is a higher authority than the Dear Leader. For his followers, Mao was literally the Supreme Being.
3 comments:
The hypothesis does not match with historical experience.
For the Greeks and Romans, their gods arose from an examination and appreciation of nature. Gods were associated, not with power and control, but with forces of nature as well as specific places.
For the Mesopotamians, their gods were not so much the source of power and authority, but rather their validation. E.g., Assyria was successful in its empire building, because Assur blessed its armies (and its king).
Israel seems rather unique in the ancient world, because its relation with Yahweh was covenantal and dealings with the Godhead were a two way street. The Hebrew God had obligations to Humanity, as well as Humanity having obligations to God. No control there.
Traditional Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism, and Shintoism are all wisdom, rather than power, based.
And of course, Jesus came, "not to be served, but to serve."
Nope, the hypothesis is bogus.
Who invented the idea that Jesus was the Son of God and gained power from it?
I know of many who declared it early on and were promptly killed. Doesn't seem like a winning strategy if personal gain and controlling others was their goal.
The real question is, was organized religion created to control people? I think you could make some interesting arguments for and against.
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