The awareness of higher spiritual plains seems to be innate in humans. This is evident because it affects every human culture and seems to have always done so. Moreover, inspite of the numerous instances where once powerful religious groups have been utterly discreditied, such as the Reformation, where the singular religious organisation soiled itself from the sale of indulgences, individuals and communities continue to pursue a spiritual quest.
One of the most significant of recent times seems to be the expanding aethist movement. Inspite of their claims, they are a religious movement in that they are based upon a system of belief and personal faith.
Most religions, possibly all, base their claims to preminance upon their predictions of general disaster, if they are ignored. Moreover, they all appear to be based upon a hierarchy, formal or otherwise, plus systems of confirmation, affirmation, identity and submission.
Islam for example, it is largely based upon their general manipulation of persecution as a tool of social management. Muslims are raised, from an early age, to see themselves as persecuted by an uncaring world. The creation and manipulation of the Palestine issue for example. It allows leaders to behave in almost any way they choose, as evident by the Saudis claiming that anyone who defies them is defying their god!
Christianity is a good example of a contrived religious group, A purely political creation, manipulated and sustained by catering to the fears eminating from the innate spiritual awareness that afflicts all humans, like a terminal disease. This is emphasised by the various schisms which have each created alternate power bases but continuing, essentialy the same message, acceptance of slavery. ie Nietzsche.
Religion exists for its own sake. It is and always will be, a political tool, to manipulate and cajole. Wars in the name of god. Payment for god.
As each new religion is established, only one thing is and will be certain. That those not submitting to the will, as expressed by the leaders, paying dues to the leaders, dividing themselves from all non-adherients will be opposed.
Hence, each religion is correct. In the same way that a boiled egg should be broken from the large side. (or is it the smaller?)
