RELIGION: THE CULT OF ORTHODOXY by Patrick Rotcivz

The conflicts of polarity

The cold war years were a period in modern history that separates the world into two polarities. On the one side is the God-fearing capitalist world lead by the United States and its allies and on the other side, the atheistic world lead by the Soviet Union and its allies in the socialist camp.

The disintegration and demise of the Soviet Union marks the end of the bipolar world which gives the United States the supreme position of world dominance. Not so, as the world has always been divided by the lines of religion. Religious divisions were ignored and tolerated by the superpowers during the cold war years for political expediency.

Now, the attention to attain world supremacy is to contain all possible resistance, and the course is now directed at the age old conflicts between the ancient religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The conflicts of religions have always remained since the crusades, jihads and holy-wars of the old era, even though religious and political leaders would outwardly deny that antagonisms still exist today. And the conflict of religions is growing at dangerous proportions.

The cause of most global conflicts then, in ancient times, and now, in the modern era derives from the division of humanity by the differing ideology. In the attempt to attain supremacy in the control of the masses, each ideological camp will usurp the other in the struggle for power.

Is religion a curse for the enslavement of humanity or a blessing for the emancipation of man?

Religion by inheritance or adoption

Most people were born and bred into the religion of their parents. Some people were converted into a religion of their own choice, while others were influenced into a religion out of societal or peer pressure, or out of following the “herd mentality.” There are those, of course, who were coerced into a religion through political, social or economic compulsion.

Sacred, supreme and ultimate truth

The foundation of all religion is based on the absolute belief in the sacredness of its ancient scriptures or holy books. There are no questions or doubt as to its validity and truth for it is the absolute truth, infallible and therefore unchallengeable. It is the supreme and absolute authority of religion.

Without question we accept in absolute faith the supremacy of the religion of our inheritance or adoption. In medieval times and even in the modern era today, crossing the line of the “established truth” of the religion of our society could have dire consequences for the perpetrators. Questioning the validity of the “established truth” or non-conforming to the prescribed laws of our religion could tantamount to the perpetrator being accused of heresy, blasphemy, deviation or apostasy against the religion and be sanctioned with inhumane punishment or the death penalty. This scenario is still true today where religious fundamentalism welds absolute authority in a society, eg. Saudi Arabia, Iran, Sudan etc.

The tenet of every religion fundamentally claims that it is the ultimate and absolute truth. Non believers, non-adherents and those outside the religion are sinners and infidels destined to the burning fires of eternal hell, unless otherwise they repent and embrace the religion of the usurper. Spiritual salvation can only be found in that particular brand of religion.

The theology of sin, fear and punishment and the dubious promise of reward for life in perpetuity in heavenly bliss after death is the paramount doctrine that compels its adherents to total submission and conformance to the authority of the religion.

Religion: the cult

Religion was founded upon a belief system taught by its founder for the believed spiritual emancipation of man and for the moral conduct of man in his society of the ancient times. As a powerful belief system, religion has influenced and shaped the historical landscape of humanity.

Through the ages, religion has evolved from ancient time into the modern era. From a mere belief system, religion has evolved to become powerful institutions with the masses subservient to its authority.

Today, religion is a powerful socio-economic, and political order organised in the name of God upon which the belief system was founded. The mainstream religions of the world today, are the world’s largest and most powerful cults – cults with the most powerful brainwashing and mind-altering ideology upon humanity. It welds immense power and controls the masses, and the economic, social and politics structures of the world.

The Power Game

Religion has always been antagonistic toward another religion. Because the adherents of each religion believe that their particular brand of religion is the supreme and the ultimate truth and others are half-truths or complete falsity, it is the ordained duty of its adherents to annihilate the competition and convert the world to submit to its authority. The history of mankind has witnessed the intense competition and antagonism between the mainstream religions.

The history of religions is tainted with blood – atrocities and carnage committed against humanity. Terrors and wars were waged in the name of inquisition, crusade, jihad or holy wars, all justified and committed in the name of the God of the religion to defeat and annihilate the infidel competition or to expand territory and impose the hegemony of religion of the victors upon the conquered land. History is filled with evidence of conquests and the conversion of the conquered peoples into the religion of the victors. This is the historical scenario of the cruelty of religion and its brutal impact upon humanity.

The mainstream religions today may have changed their tactical approach to subtlety and sanity but it has remained as a powerful and influential force that is deeply rooted in the human psyche. Religion has always been and will remain the most dangerous and divisive ideology mankind has ever known. It is a time bomb ticking to explode in the course of time – a curse for the enslavement of humanity.