manipulation

Are you trying to explain "open mindedness" to me?

I understand the concept, but thanks for the video... lol...

I feel like that's what most religions are. Doctrine is a yellow-brick-road of "thou shalt"s, that leads ultimately to "salvation" (at least in the minds of the bricklayers).
The manipulation of "if you don't do this, something bad will happen" is the original rule. THAT one is absolutely manipulative, hidden under the word "conditioning." It's what separates the sacred (acting for the good of the many) from the profane (acting for the good of the one), and is the basis for all religion. Don't do "bad" things because you'll get punished. I'd rather not do "bad" things because they are "bad." Take care of the group and the group will take care of you.

Jestor wrote: Are you trying to explain "open mindedness" to me?

I understand the concept, but thanks for the video... lol...

*sighs* no, just giving an elaboration on what you meant.

sidvkili wrote:

Jestor wrote: Are you trying to explain "open mindedness" to me?

I understand the concept, but thanks for the video... lol...

*sighs* no, just giving an elaboration on what you meant.

Ah-ha!

You didn't comment, only included the link....

I was not sure of your intention, it wasn't clear...

I seldom see you support a position, my mistake...

This is why open mindedness is so important...

I coulda got all pissy, asking snot-ily what you meant... Instead, I did it with a laugh...

I did thank you for the video... lol..

I hate the fact that people always feel the need to tell you "they could've been worse"

that I should be satisfied to an extent?

I thank you for the clarification, I do

but not thankful for the shoulda woulda coulda BS you seem to love playing at when dealing with me.

Keep calm and use the Force, gentlemen.

Now, another note about religious manipulation...
It is never the case that it is used to achieve an actual good while one that wouldn't manipulate towards evil has yet to be discovered or founded.
For the most part, 'tricking' people into not raping and murdering each other is unnecessary because people usually are decent enough to not do it anyway. And in every case where that is not so, religious manipulation doesn't work and often magnifies the problem. The entire suicide bomber community is either religious or of a faith that resembles one of religion to an incredible accuracy. The entire infant genital mutilation community is religious as well. The only rules that need religious manipulation to be enforced are either rules that have nothing to do with decent or moral behavior or are evil regardless of how you try to view them.
So while it may be in dispute how much general manipulation we all are subject to and just how little harm it really does, the amount of actual good it does is mostly negligible.

To borrow from Oscar Wilde on the topic of influence:
'There is no such thing as a good influence' .

And on the subject of religious influence, to borrow from Steven Weinberg:

Religion is an insult to human dignity. With or without it you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion.