Religion's historical and contemporary use as a tool of social control

Religion in the News

Religion is a highly complex concept and the debates on religious matters are far from being exhaustive. To most of us, religion is a refuge, the hope for a better life or the payer for a second chance. Religious beliefs promote the idea of a higher power, of an invisible entity that watches over us, rewards the good and punishes the evil, if not in the current life, in the one after it.

Today, religious values seem to become less and less convincing, proof of this standing the increasing number of atheists. The reasons for increasing atheism vary, based on each individual's education, background or life experiences. However, a reason that stands out is their argument that religion cannot be scientifically explained; ergo its existence cannot be proved. According to this theory, religious people chose to believe in the existence of a higher power, an absolute justice and the after life as it gives then comfort. During a debate on the existence of the Divinity, the atheist could ask the religious person: "How would you react if you discovered there is no after life? That this life is all you get? And when its' over, it's all over?" The believer would reply "I would be lost!" "See?" The atheist might argue. "This is why people chose to believe in a higher power, because they would be lost without it, not because it is real."

The atheists also argue that religion is a concept invented by men occupying influential positions so that state powers have a better control over the population. However a strong believer one is, they cannot disregard the multiple situations in which religion has been used as means of influencing or even manipulating the masses. Take for instance the case of the Knights of the Templar Order, who in the name of religion, have invaded and destroyed uncounted establishments. Other historical documents recollect the tales of the Spanish Inquisitions, which also in the name of God, tortured and killed thousands of innocent individuals who disagreed with the norms imposed by the Church, extracted from the Bible, but interpreted by men. It is indeed true that those times have long set, but fact remains that religion continues to be used as a driving force.

2. Contemporaneous religious topic

The number of situations is which religion was mentioned as to gain the audiences' sympathy can not be specified. Politicians forward religious beliefs in order to get elected, and then step all over them. Couples swear eternal love and respect, to soon forget the vows taken in front of God. The numbers of divorces that occur are alarming, and so is the number of the population who lives as common law spouses, without having gone through a religious ceremony. However these severely break the Christian teachings, they are less significant due to their outcome and their reduced worldly effects. To better explain, the punishments for adultery will be felt in the after life, insignificantly affecting the current life. But how about those religious practices that have massive influences upon individuals' lives and can even end them? A troubling side of religion is revealed when people kill in the name of God, or when they kill themselves in the mane of the Lord.

The role of religion in mass suicides

Mass suicides occur for various reasons, such as terrorist or kamikaze attacks, when an individual or group of individuals sacrifice themselves in order to kill as many enemies as possible. Another reason is military related. Sometimes during wars, when the troops realized their end was near, they preferred to kill themselves rather that be kept hostages. But in most cases, mass suicides are founded on religious beliefs. But what exactly are those religious features that turn the persons around us into suicidal entities?

Specialists who have long studied the phenomenon point out the existence of a strong leader, accompanied by submissive and insecure followers - "vulnerable followers, strong leaders." Maybe this is one reason why mass suicides still exist: the need for a leader, a messiah to guide our lives. The weak creatures are dissatisfied by the world around them, they sought refuge and comfort somewhere else. And the cult is there to offer the solution. First they draw the new member into the cult by pretending to understand his problems; by stating they are all facing the same issues, which will be resolved together. The new member is welcome with open arms and soon becomes part of the large family that does not judge, but is only there to love and help.

The strong leader is generally perceived as Messiah, the ruler, the leader and the protector and he is cherished and adored by his "congregation." The members follow him step-by-step and have absolute and undoubted confidence in his teachings. Therefore, when he asks them to free themselves from their material bodies, cult members rarely oppose. This freeing from their material bodies is in fact suicide, but it is presented as a straight pathway to heaven, or paradise. In their immense desire to find the Divinity, the afterlife, love, peace and the things they feel deprived of in this world, combined with the naivety, insecurity and frustrations that characterize a weak personality, cult members take their lives.

3. Literature on mass suicides

The specialized literature on the topic points out that religious mass suicides occur within cults, rather than religions. However they both came to being in the exact same way, they are different. As such, a religion is a cult that, through its longevity and followers, has earned the title of religion. The main difference between a cult and a religion is given by the repercussion felt by a member who desires to leave the congregation. An individual belonging to a certain religion is free to leave the church at any time, without any repercussions, but cults "practice a severe social outcast policy against members that leave the 'church'."

Religion represents the fight between believers and atheists, between the old ways and the new methods, between the formed traditions and systems of belief and the emergent ones. The new way bases all things on scientific proof, whereas the old way bases all things on faith and belief in a higher power. And maybe mass suicides are the old way's means of presenting their final argument. "Whether this is truly the case or not, suicides both individual and collective are only going to increase as frenetic technological changes tear apart tradition and destabilize cultures throughout the world."

4. Conclusion

Mass suicides are a form of protesting against the changing systems of beliefs; a means of escaping the unsatisfactory world around or pathways to heaven, conducted by weak and sometimes ill minds, led by a diabolic genius who has the capability of playing with others' minds. They exploit religious beliefs in order to make a less or more well founded statement.

And religious exploitation towards the advantage of an individual or group of individuals is not a procedure we are strange from. We should however bear in mind that we are beginning to demolish universal values. And after all, what will happen to humanity once it has lost its values?