Heavenly Whispers or Earthly Echoes: The Voice of Religion

Religion has played a significant role in human history, evolving alongside humanity, and providing grounding and comfort as humans grapple with the harsh reality that they, and their loved ones, are destined to the grave. The concepts of a supreme Protector and an eternal afterlife reassure many that death is not the end, and that one's actions in this life bear consequences in the next. As a potent social catalyst, religion transcends linguistic, ethnic, and cultural barriers, enabling previously hostile nations to find common ground, collaborate, trade, and form alliances. On an individual level too, it provides psychological benefits and grounding to its followers, particularly in the face of hardship. Religion has been crucial in guiding societies, and has helped usher humanity from the darkness of ignorance into the dawn of global industrial growth and shared civility. However, even with its numerous contributions, several questions persist. For instance, do the comprehensive benefits derived from religion validate its authenticity? Is theology based on a genuinely divine revelation, or did our inherent desire for spiritual communion give birth to theological constructs? Even if religion serves as the paramount social adhesive, is it an aid to truth? And ultimately, should we continue embracing tradition and religion as they were handed down to us, or is it time to take the red pill and confront the elephant in the garden of faith?

A LEAP OF FAITH, OR A STEP TOO FAR? UNMASKING THE PROPHETS' PROFIT

The reality is that religions are overwhelmingly patriarchal. Many male religious leaders and messengers have given themselves exclusive rights, benefits, and titles, including lifetime access (and afterlife access) to women, as well as claiming superior earthly and heavenly status. These individuals have often amassed power and (sometimes) wealth by preaching sermons engineered to appeal to their base, imploring them to make religion the core of their existence. For example, Jesus Christ taught his followers to seek first the kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you”), and Prophet Mohammad prescribed to his nation in Al An’am 162 that their prayer and their service, their lives and their death, should all be for Allah - or for the service of religion (“Say: My prayer and my rituals, my devotions, and my living, my life, and my dying, my death, are all for God, the Lord of the Worlds”). In the Jewish faith, Moses instructed the Israelites to make religion a central part of their lives, as evident in Deuteronomy 6:4-9, which commands Jews to love God with all their heart, soul, and might; and to diligently teach their children the commandments of the Torah.

The insistent prioritization and centralization of religion can be interpreted from two perspectives. Some see it as a sincere endeavor by religious messengers to safeguard humanity from descending into the chaos of atheism-induced anarchy. On the other hand, others perceive it as a calculated strategy to cultivate enduring lifelong $upport from the masses, fueling not only the survival of religion but also its expansion and dominance. Either way, the devotion that accompanies the centralization of religion encompasses more than just financial backing. It encompasses the concept of sacrifice, particularly among men, who are deeply guided to take action, even risking their own lives to protect religious leaders, fiercely defend their faith, or engage in conflicts with neighboring nations to promote their religious doctrines. It is no surprise that, beyond the lens of love and understanding of those well-spoken (and often well-intentioned) religious apologists, and outside the eye of the beholder, messengers are increasingly being seen as historical figures who likely used the promise of salvation or eternal reward to manipulate followers and justify their own actions. In certain circumstances, these actions included wars, exterminations, conquests, and the stripping of personal liberties and free speech - all historically documented. It is therefore crucial to approach organized religions with a critical eye and to recognize that religious leaders and messengers may have had their own motivations and agendas, leading to a tantalizing conflict of interest at the heart of the modern-day religious model.

Curiously, the leaders, and sometimes the founders of the three Abrahamic religions’ claimed to have had an exclusive, direct line of communication with a higher power. This relationship meant that they claimed to have been appointed as ‘His’ Army Leader, ‘His’ Executioner, ‘His’ tax collector, where applicable. Recognizing that religious leaders are not infallible and may have their own agendas, we should genuinely and humbly wonder to what degree their religious/political revelations were divinely ordained, authentic and altruistic as opposed to being driven mostly by earthly-interests. While this inquiry may sound fair and rational, in most religious communities, raising such brazen questions or pondering problematic topics such as earthly-interest, is often met with disapproval, viewed as impiety, and used as grounds for labeling an individual 'persona non grata'. However, as a matter of principle, we must acknowledge that the accumulation of wealth and power by religious institutions and their leaders is an earthly interest. For example, the Vatican stands as one of the world's wealthiest institutions, with extensive property, art, and investments. In addition, it is crucial to recognize that religious leaders have historically and systematically advocated for the 'expansion of God's kingdom', often resorting to coercion and violent displacements to acquire resources and exert control, bringing to light the dark and unsettling nature of these actions. Various religious texts affirm this expansionist approach, exemplified by passages such as "But of the cities of these peoples that the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, you shall let nothing that breathes remain alive" (Old Testament, Deuteronomy 20:16) and "Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day... even if they are of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizyah with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued" (Surah Al-Tawbah 9:29). These passages depict holy wars as far more than a simplistic dichotomy of good versus evil, resembling rather a near-blind pursuit of power and grotesque ethnic cleansing, as opposed to divinely ordained missions.

However, not all conflict of interest stories and theories lead to wealth. Due to the primitive and volatile methods of wealth-preservation during the Middle Ages, wealth was often an afterthought for religious leaders, compared to the power, the mystique, and the enigmatic status that came with being the “chosen one”. In the grand scheme of human ambition, the enchantment of enigma often wields a stronger appeal than the mere accumulation of wealth. This sentiment was evident even during the Middle Ages, when religious leaders prioritized power and mystique over material wealth. For example, in the Torah, Moses is described as unparalleled among the prophets of Israel, "Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face... For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel" (Deuteronomy 34:10-12). Similarly, Jesus asserted his eternal theological prominence in the Bible, stating "Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58), and "He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me" (Matthew 10:37). Muhammad wasn't too subtle either and he sought to be more important than one's family and to be granted ultimate authority, stating, "None of you truly believes until I am more beloved to him than his child, his father, and all the people," and "Whoever obeys me, obeys Allah, and whoever disobeys me, disobeys Allah.", further underlining the pursuit of enigma. Today, this quest continues with modern figures like Musk, Bezos, Ma, Zuckerberg, and the intellectual powerhouse, Jordan Peterson. Beyond their billions and massive following, these figures have reshaped cultures, reinvented industries and captivated the global imagination with their carefully cultivated personas. Their allure commands attention and influence beyond their wealth, inspiring many to live vicariously through their achievements and legacy. This enigmatic status is grander than Maslow’s highest form of achievement: self-actualization - and is a prize sought by many but attained by very few. Thus, from ancient prophets to tech magnates, the quest for power and influence often surpasses the desire for material wealth. Across ages, the true ‘immortal’ achievement lies not in the accumulation of wealth, but in attaining this enigmatic status - a feat successfully achieved by these modern figures and ancient messengers.

WHEN RELIGION GETS PUZZLING, THE PUZZLED GET MORE RELIGIOUS!

There are uncomfortable questions around authenticity and religion that extend beyond conflict of interest. For instance, if God already knows that the way for Homo sapiens to flourish and prosper is through true unity, trade and cooperation, then why does the Abrahamic religious narrative overwhelmingly center around concepts of submission, dominance, fury, war, and division, instead of focusing on peaceful coexistence and collaboration? Religion has often led to bloodshed and manipulation by established leaders, resulting in violence, as evidenced by events such as the Conquest of Canaan, the Crusades, the Inquisition, the Salem Witch Trials, and the Battle of Khaybar, so why did God choose for us that path? Since the Quran’s miraculous nature is the central argument for Islam’s authenticity, how is it fair that most of the world population cannot even comprehend it, let alone validate it themselves? And why don't Abrahamic texts mention messengers from regions like the Far East, Africa, or North America, that can be historically corroborated? Considering the universe's awe-inspiring complexity, why would a divine designer opt for communication through imperfect chosen humans, instead of directly through DNA, where our instincts and reflexes are encoded?

But this is not a call to reject religions or dismiss messengers. Religions are still essential and relevant, as we all have an undeniable yearning for spiritual connection, a need to belong, and an unquenchable curiosity about the mystique of life. We often take immense joy in personifying 'the series of fortunate events' that sporadically happen in our lives, linking them with 'God' to feel heard, to feel like we matter, that we are seen, watched, and protected. So yes, of course we want to believe! However, contrary to how we often prefer to enjoy our burger without considering the story of the cow it came from, we should possess the intellectual courage to play the devil's advocate with our religious narratives. We should peel back the layers and look under the hood, rather than just swallowing the current religious narrative whole. We should be open to hearing what non-believers, or even ideological adversaries, have to say about our theology and enigmatic messengers/heroes. This requires treating religion as a sacred 'support function' rather than the central motherboard around which our existence is built. It's important to re-examine our religious history from a different or opposing perspective, even if it initially unsettles us - and it likely will. And when we insist on investigating an inconsistency or a controversy, we ought to distinguish reasonable explanations from the generic platitudes of apologists.

THE FORBIDDEN FRUIT CHRONICLES: MONKEYING AROUND WITH DOGMA

Transitioning from the realm of personal belief to the broader societal implications, we might ask: What drives societies towards extreme religious fervor anyway? What motivates people of faith to firmly uphold the religious ideologies they've been taught, despite the lack of tangible evidence for these beliefs? What shields them from the red pill blues? The answer is encapsulated in a single word: Dogma! Dogma refers to an established set of beliefs that are deemed unquestionable, regardless of evidence to the contrary; suppressing freethinking and critical reasoning. Dogma is a perspective, albeit limited; a paradigm, although distorted. To demonstrate the potential pitfalls of dogmatic thinking, let's examine an allegory involving monkeys and bananas! Imagine a group of monkeys that was ruthlessly conditioned to avoid climbing a ladder to reach a bunch of bananas, by getting sprayed with icy cold water whenever they attempted it. As new monkeys joined the group, they were attacked for trying to climb the ladder, despite not understanding the reason for the attack. While the parable stops here, imagine this tradition being passed down blindly for generations. By the 20th generation for example, no monkey would have witnessed the original spraying events, but they would still firmly believe that touching a "forbidden" banana would lead to disaster. Consequently, a disturbing custom develops where monkeys that dare to touch a banana are killed by their next of kin to set an example. Throughout the generations, many rebellious, mischievous, or curious monkeys get killed for daring to expose the tribe to a perceived dire risk and breaking the norm of staying away from them bananas. Over time, a few "enlightened" monkeys begin to challenge this status quo, but the majority dismiss this new reckless perspective outright, and only a small minority are open to testing the "dire threat" by touching the bananas themselves. Now, think about the plight of those monkeys who felt compelled to kill their kin for touching the bananas. They might - and probably would - become aggressively dismissive to conceal the horrifying possibility that they killed their loved ones for no good reason, thereby doubling down on their inherited, baseless ideology. Here, the allegory's message underscores the importance of recognizing and challenging dogmatic thinking [or the status quo] within society. This leads us to the realization that the day we recognize the role of dogma in shaping our religious beliefs, and admit that religion may be more a reflection of human desire for structure, meaning, and control rather than an infallible divine truth, is the day we accept that the emperor is barely clothed or has left the building altogether!

There is nothing inherently wrong or immoral about having serious doubts in a specific religious model due to potential conflicts of interest. For centuries it was (only) theology that answered life’s existential questions such as: why we are here, who/where our designer is, and our fate after death. However, as numerous scientific theories have endeavored to satisfactorily explain the nature of matter and the emergence of consciousness, perhaps theology needs to take a step back and share the podium with other disciplines such as quantum physics, geology, genetics…etc. And while many of those science-driven theories assume no messengers or middle-men, they are academically just as valid as the ‘Adam & Eve’ narrative. So although we may hold our faith in the highest esteem, it's essential to approach religious beliefs and teachings with an open mind and a sincere intent to understand. By allowing - or better yet, encouraging - critical thinking, debate, and mutual respect, we can work towards a world where religious and spiritual insights can be exchanged without judgment or competition. Nevertheless, a question looms: should we adopt the less vibrant, enlightened 'Matrix view' of sobering truths and somber reality, or continue to cherish the flawed yet colorful mosaic of beliefs that non-red pill individuals get to enjoy?