There must be a reason why the only thing they gave you was religion

[malaise]

[byeya]

1. As the Egyptians were the first to discover, it's cheaper to keep a population in line with

religion than with a police force.(Of course you need a police force to for the recalcitrants)

[Hestia]

11. Don't blame the Egyptians - their religion lasted from 3500 BCE to 535 CE

Actually there has always been a Temple to Isis since 3500 BCE, so it it still ongoing. They must have done something right since they were at one time the richest country in the world without coinage - trade only.

[Cirque du So-What]

2. Deferred gratification, doncha know

Serve your master here on earth and endure everything he can dish out because in the end, you'll fly away to meet up with Sky Daddy and receive your reward. Don't cause any trouble in the meantime, however; just take it and keep thinking about heaven...

[BlueStreak]

3. Definitely true, and that brainwashing survives the generations

The most churchy people I know are African-American folks. Virtually 100% of my black friends are heavily religious. It is a shame that they don't figure out it was all a big con. They resist "the man" in every other aspect -- casting off those shackles and such. But religion endures in that community.

[BlueStreak]

4. Number of Americans believeg in ghosts doubles in past decade

http://www.businessinsider.com/70-more-americans-believe-in-ghosts-than-20-years-ago-2009-12

[n2doc]

8. And the worse you have it here, the better for you there

And all those rich rulers, oh, boy, will they get theirs! Someday! Real soon now! Back to Work, slave!

[Cirque du So-What]

9. And don't forget

to FORGIVE Dear Master for all manner of atrocities, as it's not YOUR place to judge and, besides, forgiving earns extra points in heaven.

[backscatter712]

13. Forgiveness is part of the racket.

That's the message that the religious elites keep shoving down our throats: "Forgive your oppressors!"

Basic self interest on their parts.

[ChoppinBroccoli]

5. My Exact Response To The Facebook Meme.........

.............about why they give Bibles to people in prison. It's because religion makes people more submissive and easier to control.

[CrispyQ]

6. Because without the "We Fool You" tier,

the "We Work For All, We Feed All" tier would rise up & demand economic justice.

[malaise]

17. Freaking brilliant

Love it

[siligut]

7. Mind control by another name

All wrapped up in a pretty package of guilt, hope and pride.

[Cirque du So-What]

10. Even as a preadolescent

I surmised that the Roman Empire would be hard-pressed to come up with a better control scheme than the New Testament. Once the WWW came along, I found essays attributing its authorship to a family named Piso. As most of these websites specialize in conspiracy theory, I paid little mind to it, although some parts seemed plausible. I would like to come across something more 'scholarly' in regard to the Pisos writing the NT, because if I did, I would take it and fucking well RUN with it!

[EC]

12. I forgot which religion and where I read it

but it said they gave the religion to give poor people hope and something to please them.

[Arugula Latte]

15. The opiate of the masses

[Arugula Latte]

14. Oh, don't worry about this life -- it will all be harps and clouds soon.

Now, get back to work! *crack*

[malaise]

16. Ding ding we have a winner

I'm taking all of mine on earth - whoever wants to wait for the hereafter - good effin' luck!!!