Previously posted on the Young People For Blog
Religion, invoking the powers of god, speaking from the lord's book - all these things have a great power and importance to a large number of people, but why? As I traveled this past week (spring break) through the states from Michigan to Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Georgia, Florida and back I really noticed the prevalence of religion along the highway and in the South.
For starters on the way back to Michigan just today I noticed the constant scene of three crosses strategically placed along the highway near Baptist churches. God is watching you on the road? Or don't forget god is watching you on the road? Are you on the right road? What is the right road?
The best was cooking show I attended while at annual the Strawberry festival in Plant City, FL. The presentation, or rather sales pitch, was for water-less, oil-less cooking ware. Sturdy, durable, and more healthy. The salesman's favorite tagline was that the food is straight from 'God' there is nothing better than that, no need to add oil and water which takes away nutrients and flavor. God made it so it is the best thing for your body and his cookware would keep god's delights in the best condition for you. Religion to sell cookware? Sure why not?
This flashes me back to a history channel special I watched earlier in the week, while spread out on my inflatable mattress, about the barbarians. After the fall of Rome the barbarian tribes overran Western Europe and one of the most notable was the Franks. After conqeuring a vast amount of land and people the Frankish, pagan, barbarian leader converted to Christianity as a political move to unify his various barbarian tribes and as a political move to gain more power. This action, which converted a vast amount of the new population of Europe and most importantly, France, lead to the prevalence of Christianity. Would religion and Christianity not have built such a grasp on society if it hadn't been for this barbarian's move for power? Is religion just a tool for people to gain wealth and power? It seems many defining moments in history deal with man's use of religion (man-made) for gain.
A drawing of a small child kneeling and praying adorns a large billboard in Virginia right next to the bean plant. The advertisement on the billboard says, "Not on bread alone." Referring to the words of god that man cannot live on bread alone this bean company is attempting to sell its beans as an important addition to god's words. Not on bread alone, but also on love, compassion, empathy, and service. . . maybe? Religion, invoking the words of god, and gaining people's trust through god - a tool for gain, power, wealth? History shows us yes, present day experiences show me yes. What is the power of religion beyond unifying the masses to be controlled?