The use of religion for social control is a major part of all nations. Could you imagine any nation being founded on Atheism or Agnosticism? Even the perceived religious identity of the U.S. , even though we profess a freedom of religion, is that of Christianity. The belief in God is a matter of personal deductive reasoning and is the only type of faith that is possible. The belief in some sort of organized definition of God requires a denial of logic, reason, the natural world, and it would seem some sort of personally inflicted lobotomy. The nationalistic tie to religion is stronger than you may think. My mother is not just catholic, nor is she just Irish. She is “IRISH CATHOLIC”. Clearly superior to any other Catholic or to any other type of Irishman (sarcasm). Nations use the myths to generate nationalistic pride and to conduct wars; and sheeple (my new word for those who follow blindly) use the myths for self aggrandizement and to feel like they are a part of something.
The following is from Age of Reason by Thomas Paine
Every national church or religion has established itself by pretending some special mission from God, communicated to certain individuals. The Jews have their Moses; the Christians their Jesus Christ, their apostles and saints; and the Turks their Mahomet, as if the way to God was not open to every man alike
Each of those churches show certain books, which they call revelation, or the word of God. The Jews say, that their word of God was given by God to Moses, face to face; the Christians say, that their word of God came by divine inspiration; and the Turks say, that their word of God (the Koran) was brought by an Angel from Heaven. Each of those churches accuse the other of unbelief; and for my own part, I disbelieve them all.
