On the mechanisms of religious control…
8: 2 As I have pointed out, Religion and nationalism galvanize one side against another. 8: 3 For galvanization to occur, there must be control over thought and ideology.
8: 4 One mechanism for achieving galvanizing control is what I’ll call the “myth of primacy.” 8: 5 In essence, Religion teaches that its beliefs and only its beliefs are right. If one of its commandments is “you will have no other gods,” then that means everyone else’s god is wrong. 8: 6 So naturally, it follows that when told by religious leaders that the believers of anything else are evil and must be punished, the devout will feel obligated to obey; 8: 7 for example, the forced conversion to Christianity of the pagans in Europe and the indigenous peoples of Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
8: 8 The second mechanism is the facilitation of unquestioning belief in literature and clergy. 8: 9 When religious leaders can interpret texts and act as the only authority for the spiritual, they wield considerable influence. 8: 10 This influence can be used to further personal, political, and exploitative agendas. There have been several cases where charismatic religious leaders have used their power to bring about less-than-desirable outcomes for their followers and society.
8: 11 The third mechanism of religious control is ritual. Rituals include liturgy, holidays, symbols, and gestures, for example, making the sign of the cross. 8: 12 Religious ritual restructures thought. Whether this means prayer before eating or bed; or a holiday calendar that includes several days that celebrate the different aspects of the Religion, it becomes a habit, culturally ingrained, and foremost in the minds of its parishioners—leading to the acceptance of all dogma associated with the Religion. 8: 13 For example, Christmas is the accepted day for the birth of Jesus. There is no evidence that he was born on December 25. This date is derived from the Winter Solstice, a major pagan holiday in ancient Europe. 8: 14 When Christianity became the Religion of the Roman Empire, the Winter Solstice was incorporated into Christianity to appease and aid in the conversion of the pagans.