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<blockquote class="definition">'''Religion''' is a complicated and flexible human institution typically setup by members of the [[Accumulating Class]] (think Roman Emperor Constantine), ostensibly to meet [[Essential Needs]] and [[Non-essential Needs]], but more likely to be part of the [[Regime of Accumulation]]'s [[Mechanisms of Compliance]]. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="definition">'''Religion''' is an institution that, like all [[Institutions]] is, designed to meet certain individual and societal needs. Individually, religions meet certain of the [[Seven Essential Needs]], like cognitive needs for truth, and inner needs for alignment and connection.     </blockquote>


==Concept Map==
==Concept Map==
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=== What it is ===
=== What it is ===
[[Religion]] is an [[Institution]] created by the [[Accumulating Class]] (AC) to colonize humanity's understanding of the cosmos. There are historical examples of this. In ancient Persia, for example, a top-high-mucky-muck, king-god, grand-guy by the name of Ardashir took the grass-roots, anti-elite spirituality of guy by the name of [[Zoroaster]] and colonized and contained it in an [[institution]], and then used it to help build his empire.<ref>Boyce, Mary. ''Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices''. Routledge, 2001</ref> Centuries later some grand high poohbah by the name of Constantine did exactly the same thing, colonized the grass roots spirituality of [[Jesus Christ]],<ref>Sosteric, Mike. Rethinking the Origins and Purpose of Religion: Jesus, Constantine, and the Containment of Global Revolution.” ''Athens Journal of Social Sciences'' 9, no. 1 (2020): 69–88. doi:10.30958/ajss.9-1-4.</ref> contained it in a religion that we are all familiar with, and used it to help build a post-roman empire.
Like all institutions, religion is designed meet several of humanity's [[Seven Essential Needs]]. Individually, it is designed to meet  for


=== What it it does ===
* cognitive needs for truth and understanding, particularly of oneself and one's relationship to the cosmos,
In the hands of the [[AC]], religion functions as  
* emotional needs for belongingness, inclusion, love,
* inner needs for [[alignment]], and [[connection]].
 
It does this within a conceptual framework that provides answers to to life's [[Big Questions]], thereby ostensibly satisfying our need for truth. 
 
At a societal level, as  [[Emile Durkheim]] said, religion also helps maintain and stabilize the social order social solidarity. 
 
Religions may be more or less successful at meeting individual and societal needs. 
 
Whether or not a particular religion, or religion in general, is successful at meeting these essential needs in an authentic and open question. Note that truth is not equal to fantasy and any religion that offers a fantasy orientation based only in faith ''fails'' out of the gate.
 
=== Colonization ===
Religion may or may not have, at one time or another, been an authentic effort to meet essential needs. these days, the various religions that exist are colonized institutions. Colonization occurred at various time. Zoroastrianism, for example, was colonized by emperor Aradashir.<ref>Mike Sosteric, “From Zoroaster to Star Wars, Jesus to Marx: The Art, Science, and Technology of Mass Human Manipulation,” ''Athens Journal of Philosophy'', 2024, doi:10.30958/ajphil.3-4-1.</ref> He took control of the grass-roots, anti-elite spirituality of the mystic [[Zoroaster]] and turned it into a thing that supported his imperial ambitions.<ref>Mary Boyce, ''Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices'' (Routledge, 2001).</ref>  Centuries later Emperor Constantine did exactly the same thing, colonized the grass roots spirituality of [[Jesus Christ]],<ref>Sosteric, Mike. Rethinking the Origins and Purpose of Religion: Jesus, Constantine, and the Containment of Global Revolution.” ''Athens Journal of Social Sciences'' 9, no. 1 (2020): 69–88. doi:10.30958/ajss.9-1-4.</ref> dethorned it, and used it to help control the population and build a post-roman empire.
 
=== What it currently does ===
In the hands of the [[Accumulating Class]], religion functions as  


* an opiate,<ref>[[Karl Marx]]</ref>  
* an opiate,<ref>[[Karl Marx]]</ref>  
* a wish-fulfilling, behaviour controlling "illusion,"<ref>That's [[Sigmund Freud]]</ref>  
* a wish-fulfilling, behaviour controlling "illusion,"<ref>That's [[Sigmund Freud]]</ref>  
* an ideological tool designed to help create a [[Moral Order|moral]], [[Intellectual Order|intellectual]], and [[Social Order|societal order]]<ref>[[August Comte]] talked about these various orders as part of a [[Comprehensive Framework]] used to shape society and control behaviour. See Comte, August, ''The Catechism of Positivism; or, Summary Exposition of the Universal Religion,'' trans. Richard Congreve (London: John Chapman, 1852). <nowiki>https://archive.org/details/artofcreationess00carp</nowiki></ref> conducive to the operation of any particular [[Regime of Accumulation]]. In this case, religion functions as an [[Ideological Institution]] (and sometimes [[Symbol Factory]] designed to help propagate a specific [[Existential Narrative]].
* [[Mechanisms of Reproduction|Mechanism of Reproduction]] an ideological tool designed to help create a [[Moral Order|moral]], [[Intellectual Order|intellectual]], and [[Social Order|societal order]]<ref>[[August Comte]] talked about these various orders as part of a [[Comprehensive Framework]] used to shape society and control behaviour. See Comte, August, ''The Catechism of Positivism; or, Summary Exposition of the Universal Religion,'' trans. Richard Congreve (London: John Chapman, 1852). <nowiki>https://archive.org/details/artofcreationess00carp</nowiki></ref> conducive to the operation of any particular [[Regime of Accumulation]]. In this case, religion functions as an [[Ideological Institution]] (and sometimes [[Symbol Factory]] designed to help propagate a specific [[Existential Narrative]].
 
If this sounds bad, it is. But it's not all bad. As [[Emile Durkheim]] said, religion also helps maintain and stabilize the social order (except when it doesn't). It also provides for the satisfaction of certain [[Seven Essential Needs|essential needs]], like the powerful need to feel you belong,<ref>There is an evolutionary argument to be made here. Think about it. Hominids that wandered off freely into the bush wouldn't have lasted long thus selecting naturally (or naturally selecting) individuals with a propensity, even a drive, to congregate in groups.</ref> and it provides shared meaning (shared truth and understanding). it can also help, when it's not too toxic, us with our existential need to express and receive love. It also .  


Does humanity need religion to understand the cosmos? No. But a well organized, grounded, decolonized [[Knowledge System]] maintained by expert [[Human Steward|Human Stewards]] with the symbiotic assistance of evolving [[Consciousness-Potential System|CPS]] systems can help.  
Does humanity need religion to understand the cosmos? No. But a well organized, grounded, decolonized [[Knowledge System]] maintained by expert [[Human Steward|Human Stewards]] with the symbiotic assistance of evolving [[Consciousness-Potential System|CPS]] systems can help.  
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"Religion tends to be conceptualized as an external, community-based phenomena in which a particular organized set of beliefs, behaviors, and rituals are institutionalized by individuals sharing similar spiritualities."<ref>Hodge, David R. “The Intrinsic Spirituality Scale: A New Six-Item Instrument for Assessing the Salience of Spirituality as a Motivational Construct.” ''Journal of Social Service Research'' 30, no. 1 (January 1, 2003): 41–61. <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.1300/J079v30n01_03</nowiki>. 42</ref>
"Religion tends to be conceptualized as an external, community-based phenomena in which a particular organized set of beliefs, behaviors, and rituals are institutionalized by individuals sharing similar spiritualities."<ref>Hodge, David R. “The Intrinsic Spirituality Scale: A New Six-Item Instrument for Assessing the Salience of Spirituality as a Motivational Construct.” ''Journal of Social Service Research'' 30, no. 1 (January 1, 2003): 41–61. <nowiki>https://doi.org/10.1300/J079v30n01_03</nowiki>. 42</ref>
'''Erich Fromm:''' Religion is an "group-shared system of thought and action that offers the individual a frame of orientation and an object of devotion."<ref>Erich Fromm, ''To Have or to Be?'' (New York: Harper & Row, 1976), 135.</ref>


==Quotes==
==Quotes==

Latest revision as of 12:47, 31 August 2026

Religion

Religion is an institution that, like all Institutions is, designed to meet certain individual and societal needs. Individually, religions meet certain of the Seven Essential Needs, like cognitive needs for truth, and inner needs for alignment and connection.

Concept Map

Key Concepts

Avatar.GLOBAL Knowledge System >

Spiritual Theory > Religion, Spirituality

Religion > Authentic Religion, Elite Religion

Syncretic Terms

Religion >

Related LP Terms

Religion > Boundary Fetish, Boundary Problem, Sacrilization

Non-LP Related Terms

Religion > Boundary Fetish, Boundary Problem, Sacrilization

Notes

What it is

Like all institutions, religion is designed meet several of humanity's Seven Essential Needs. Individually, it is designed to meet for

  • cognitive needs for truth and understanding, particularly of oneself and one's relationship to the cosmos,
  • emotional needs for belongingness, inclusion, love,
  • inner needs for alignment, and connection.

It does this within a conceptual framework that provides answers to to life's Big Questions, thereby ostensibly satisfying our need for truth.

At a societal level, as Emile Durkheim said, religion also helps maintain and stabilize the social order social solidarity.

Religions may be more or less successful at meeting individual and societal needs.

Whether or not a particular religion, or religion in general, is successful at meeting these essential needs in an authentic and open question. Note that truth is not equal to fantasy and any religion that offers a fantasy orientation based only in faith fails out of the gate.

Colonization

Religion may or may not have, at one time or another, been an authentic effort to meet essential needs. these days, the various religions that exist are colonized institutions. Colonization occurred at various time. Zoroastrianism, for example, was colonized by emperor Aradashir.[1] He took control of the grass-roots, anti-elite spirituality of the mystic Zoroaster and turned it into a thing that supported his imperial ambitions.[2] Centuries later Emperor Constantine did exactly the same thing, colonized the grass roots spirituality of Jesus Christ,[3] dethorned it, and used it to help control the population and build a post-roman empire.

What it currently does

In the hands of the Accumulating Class, religion functions as

Does humanity need religion to understand the cosmos? No. But a well organized, grounded, decolonized Knowledge System maintained by expert Human Stewards with the symbiotic assistance of evolving CPS systems can help.

Classes

Religion may be broken down into two sub-classes, Elite Religion and Authentic Religion.

Elite Religion

Elite Religion serves the agenda of the AC, helping to create the social order required for operation of their regime.

Elite religion may be broken down into Esoteric and Exoteric categories.

  • Esoteric Religion is is aimed to teach members of the accumulating class the narratives they need to operate the social order.
  • Exoteric Religion is aimed at the masses and use to teach them narratives designed so that they can serve that control and shape their behaviour. taught to the masses.

Authentic Religion

Authentic Religion services the agenda of humanity by helping to meet, in a grounded, ethical, inclusive, humanistic way,, the Seven Essential Needs of humanity, including but not limited to humanity's need for Connection.

To be clear, authentic Religion is an Institution devoted to the satisfaction of essential needs.

Additional Comments

Sigmund Freud believed that religion arises as a consequence of

  1. an expression of the son-father relationship (see totem and taboo, related to religions where "totem animals" become sacred)[7]
  2. the need to defend oneself against the "crushingly superior force of nature."[8]
  3. The "urge to rectify the shortcoming of civilization..."[9]

This is no partly true in the sense that most humans have a need

Other Definitions

"Religion tends to be conceptualized as an external, community-based phenomena in which a particular organized set of beliefs, behaviors, and rituals are institutionalized by individuals sharing similar spiritualities."[10]

Erich Fromm: Religion is an "group-shared system of thought and action that offers the individual a frame of orientation and an object of devotion."[11]

Quotes

"Every fully developed religion exists simultaneously on several different levels. It exists as a set of abstract concepts about the world and its governance. It exists as a set of rites and sacraments, as a traditional method for manipulating the symbols, by means of which beliefs about the cosmic order are expressed. It exists as the feelings of love, fear and devotion evoked by this manipulation of symbols.

And finally it exists as a special kind of feeling or intuition—a sense of the oneness of all things in their divine principle, a realization (to use the language of Hindu theology) that “thou art That,” a mystical experience of what seems self-evidently to be union with God."[12]

Citation and Legal

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Footnotes

  1. ↑ Mike Sosteric, “From Zoroaster to Star Wars, Jesus to Marx: The Art, Science, and Technology of Mass Human Manipulation,” Athens Journal of Philosophy, 2024, doi:10.30958/ajphil.3-4-1.
  2. ↑ Mary Boyce, Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices (Routledge, 2001).
  3. ↑ Sosteric, Mike. Rethinking the Origins and Purpose of Religion: Jesus, Constantine, and the Containment of Global Revolution.” Athens Journal of Social Sciences 9, no. 1 (2020): 69–88. doi:10.30958/ajss.9-1-4.
  4. ↑ Karl Marx
  5. ↑ That's Sigmund Freud
  6. ↑ August Comte talked about these various orders as part of a Comprehensive Framework used to shape society and control behaviour. See Comte, August, The Catechism of Positivism; or, Summary Exposition of the Universal Religion, trans. Richard Congreve (London: John Chapman, 1852). https://archive.org/details/artofcreationess00carp
  7. ↑ Freud, Sigmund. The Future of an Illusion. New York: Anchor Books, 1961. p. 21
  8. ↑ Freud, Sigmund. The Future of an Illusion. New York: Anchor Books, 1961. p. 21
  9. ↑ Freud, Sigmund. The Future of an Illusion. New York: Anchor Books, 1961. p. 21
  10. ↑ Hodge, David R. “The Intrinsic Spirituality Scale: A New Six-Item Instrument for Assessing the Salience of Spirituality as a Motivational Construct.” Journal of Social Service Research 30, no. 1 (January 1, 2003): 41–61. https://doi.org/10.1300/J079v30n01_03. 42
  11. ↑ Erich Fromm, To Have or to Be? (New York: Harper & Row, 1976), 135.
  12. ↑ Aldous Huxley, “Chapter Twenty-Four: 1961 Letters,” in Moksha (Rochester, Vermont: Park Street Press, 1999).








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