Is religion aids of the mind?
600511
I think you're familiar with the term "meme," meaning "thought-virus," correct?
254606
Religion covers a wide range of people. If religions is a mental illness, then the majority of people on earth are mentally ill.
421572
Rationality has never applied to religion as evidenced by the multitude of religions we have. Cults are usually an example of brainwashing and threats.Spirituality, which a lot of people confuse with religion has, in some areas a rational base but, when you move into faith based subjects of all the different religions you leave rational thought behind.
803908
I believe that religion is passed down the line like a virus. If you're a spiritually-minded person, there's nothing wrong with having a belief in the existence of (or teachings of) God, Allah, Jesus, Confucious, Buddah, Satan or whatever else. As long as you're not subscribing to any doctrine so blindly that you'll willfully follow any asshole waving around a Holy Book like an assault rifle. In the wrong hands, religion is much worse than any other weapon that any person on this planet has ever manufactured.
873343
Yes but I don't think its consciously done by most who are involved. Its memes - ideas which can hook in to people brains and pass on, do survive and pass on. Most people involved in the church have probably been hooked themselves. Even more insidious if you think about it.\n\nOh and don't forget the big one - the absolute glorification of blind faith in what they are told.
1097986
I think you just answered your own question.  I think there is nothing, but you're right, religion is easier to conceptualize than nothing.
1024018
Sure, I think the answer to both questions is yes. Religion was created to conquer a fear of death and religion was created to control people. However, aside from religion, a man rose from the dead and this man is named Jesus. Something is remarkably different about this person and you can read about him in the Christian Bible. This one event shows that there is more to a religion than a mere belief or control. God has a plan for our lives and God made himself known throughout history.
284370
Personally speaking for myself, I would say no, it does not.  I like philosophy cuz it helps me be critical of religious teachings, and not to take belief / philosphical systems blindly.  It helps me be realistic, more self-aware of what I am believing, and whether what I believe helps me be a better person overall or if I am just believing cuz I want the "security". \n\nI do think it may close the doors on religion for some people....as philosophy requires a lot of critical thinking, analyzing....that does include analyzing religious texts in depth, and I know that does bother some religious people.
456809
My school RI teacher when I was 11. She told me (what iv ealready printed a few times on this site, i just feel i should share it) that religion is like a mountain with God at the top. There are many paths up that mountain, each looking different, but theyre all just part of the same mountain. Hows that for influence on a developing mind?
974436
no, because those with the most creative and and popular religion get to spread their genes and message, even though the most creative religion is monotheism [,Islam, Judaism, Christianity.. etc...] it lets you concentrate all of your creative  reasoning ability on one subject so only one GOD takes the credit and sometimes [wrongly] the blame! like Einstein said 'creativity is more important than knowledge and the simplest explanation is the correct one!'
711570
Religion is a "mind virus" it grows and spreads, like a virus. Inhabiting each victim with a belief system that is 2,000 years old. At a time when there was very little knowledge of the actual world and the Universe. These beliefs are spread from person to person, inhibiting people from believing and understanding truth, logic and reason. Something that science, atheists and in most cases, agnostics can understand. Science carries the human consciousness to a higher level. Religion lowers it.
907162
Religion is Man's interpretation of God's mind.  \n\nIt can be beauty exemplified, or vile in its ugliness.  It takes the soul and consecrates faith or rends discontent.  And it can inspire a person to perform the greatest deeds, or the most horrific crimes.  \n\nBut it will always be flawed.  The Mind of God is wholly unknowable.\n.
1089985
Religion was designed to Comfort and Amuse you\n\nIf you are not amused or comforted by yours - \nFind a New Religion that Comforts and Amuses you
853526
I believe that can be correlated with a phrase I coined:  "As crutches are to a man with a broken leg, so is religion to the mind that is feeble."  Religion can be blamed for so many of society's ills, as well as efforts to impede progress in the sciences and societal developments.
689283
I agree with you, and Rain, Psychology, A. Mann, tls.bhaskar, milo, azmurath, Sue Namie, babyarnie, and d_waddell2001. Religion is a system of understanding, so the religion itself, being a belief or pattern of thoughts, is not the act of violence or war (effect), but does prompt it and promote it indirectly (cause), while preaching exactly the opposite (defence). Many (others who have answered) have come to trust religion because of the good things it promotes, like purpose, goodwill, communication with spirit, respect for other belivers (sometimes), and feelings of belonging, among others.\nWhen a person trusts another person over their own feelings and intuition, they become a slave to be controlled. There are millions of people around the world who exist as robots to be ordered by the people in their lives. The boss, priest, trainer, teacher, commanding officer, whoever. These slaves are the ones who fight wars, even the ones at salvation army.\nWhat is advised is a detachment from organised religion, and to establish a relationship with self, life, love and nature. By feeling your personal interpretation of what matters, and, the most important thing, to keep the most important things the most important things, one can carve their groove in history exactly the way they choose. Total responsibility, total spiritual freedom. By standing up and saying "I made that mistake, and I'm damn proud of it because I've learnt from the experience," a person's character gains courage, humility and wisdom, just to name a few. By choosing to allow blame, guilt, fear, and hate to fill one's thoughtful life, one commits to living with stress, health problems, depression, detachment from self, immature and irresposible behaviour like terrorism, and extreme anxiety. Ever noticed how dedicated religious followers are, even though they may have only joined weeks ago? Thats an observable symptom. All external success begins with internal success, so peace must be made within first, followed by those around you (your world). When critical mass is reached, your world will become our world. If you do not go within you go without!!!
523796
religion gives the hopeless hope. its all about the money. the poor will do the rich mans work because the rich man taught him that one day he will have eternal salvation, all his dreams will come true a thousand times...it was a form of control...today, educated people make their own decisions. i think, the smarter you are, the less religious you become.
579818
That might be one possible answer, but not the only one. There is plenty about this on the internet. Some people who had schizophrenia and epileptic seizures used to be thought of as being possessed by the divine force. The gods helped explain things that people didn't understand, and religion helped to unity people. There are a hundred answers to this question. Google it.