> I believed the universe was full of planets before our scientists validated it. My belief was based on the emotions I felt looking into the night sky full of the stars. It’d be a dull life if I could not entertain thoughts and feelings unless they were “scientifically validated”.
How old are you? ;) I completely agree with you. I love thinking and imagining reasons for things that we do not yet have answers to. But at the same time I recognize the probabilities of my explanations being correct. While, many followers in organized religions blindly and devoutly believe that their religion is the one true explanation, which is illogical to me.
>Be aware (just in case!) your perception of religion as merely a means of control may be a projection of your own desire to control others, out of your own fear of the unknown beyond what is “scientifically known”, and in doing so have made the religious ones who are “others” who believe in something “shady”, “others” who are less than you.
That's an interesting point. I've accepted that our lives are a temporary spec of existence on an insignificant rock, and I'm oaky with that. I also believe that we should fulfill our evolutionary purpose by propagating, improving technology, and recording information for future generations. If I made it seem that I think religious people are "less than" that is not how I feel. I'm okay with anyone believing anything they want to help them get through their day as long as they aren't harming others. My only point in that sense was the confusion I face with people seeking evidence and facts while engineering things and solving problems, but not applying the same scientific method to everyday life.
A modern example I can think of when it comes to religions being a form of control is how the republican party has a very profound base of religious conservatives. Many of whom are working class people, but the republican party is run mainly by wealthy elite. Most of the fiscal reforms that the republican party espouses do not have a direct impact on the wealth of the working class, but they republican party is able to capture all of these votes. (I have religious family who seem to get most of their political influence from their church). So many other historical examples of religion being a major contributor to the success of empires and countries . The Roman empire and Islamic empires being some examples. Helps you unify people, they are devout because they are promised eternal salvation, etc.